Rachel Smith Locke

Rachel Smith Locke, 88, of Drakes Branch, was called home on February 21, 2012. She was born in Halifax County, and was one of eleven children of the late Byrd Walker and Irene Snead Smith. She was the retired co-owner of the Western Auto Associate Store in Drakes Branch. She was a faithful long-time member of the Drakes Branch Baptist Church, where she served in many capacities, including teaching a children’s Sunday School class for over fifty years. She also assisted her husband with the duties of Treasurer of the Charlotte County Rescue Squad for many years.
She is survived by her husband, John S. Locke, whom she married in 1941. Other survivors include two brothers, George L. “Lindy” Smith and his wife, Mary, of Richmond, and Harry Byrd “H. B.” Smith and his wife, Janet, of Lynchburg. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by five brothers, Lawrence, Garland, Jimmy, Julius, and Walker Smith; three sisters, Virginia Wohlberg, Doris Brookes, and Mary Eliza Daniel.
A graveside funeral service will be held at the Drakes Branch Presbyterian Church Cemetery at 2 p.m., on Thursday, February 23, with The Reverend Steven Carne officiating. The family will receive friends at the Drakes Branch Baptist Church from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Drakes Branch Baptist Church, P. O. Box 192, Drakes Branch, VA, 23937; or the Charlotte County Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 330, Keysville, VA, 23947. The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home of Keysville is serving the family.