Patricia Drake of Burnsville named 2022 Braxton Belle

Patricia Drake of Burnsville has been named the Braxton Belle for 2022. She is being sponsored by the Braxton County Community Educational Outreach Service Council.
Drake and her husband Ronald have been married for 50 years. They have three children and 11 grandchildren.
She graduated from Burnsville High School and the Charleston Beauty Academy.
Drake was a self-employed beautician for 40 years. She owned and operated Pat’s Beauty Shop in Burnsville. She also worked as a beautician at the Glenville nursing home.
She is a member of the Burnsville CEOS Club and serves as membership and marketing chairperson. Drake also is the Braxton County CEOS Council Vice-President.
She is highly skilled in farming and homemaking. She raises a garden, cooks good, healthy meals, and preserves the bounty. She milks a cow daily, providing fresh milk for her family, churning butter, and making cottage cheese.
Drake also raises miniature horses, and has trained one to pull a cart that she drives. She has entered horse shows in halter class and cart class.
She is an accomplished seamstress who made her own Belle dress for this year’s festival. Another skill is hunting, and she has brought home deer and bear trophies.
Drake would like to encourage young women to “pursue an education that will lead you to a career that you like, but do not neglect learning life skills such as farming and homemaking.”
When asked what she would like others to know about Braxton County, Drake stated, “Sutton and Burnsville, each have a dam and a lake that offers water sports such as swimming, boating, and fishing.
On the dam properties, picnic shelters are available at several places with adjacent playgrounds and rest rooms. Camping for people who bring their own trailers is near-by. Forest land surrounding the lakes is open for licensed hunters in seasons. There are some privately owned campgrounds as well.
The three small towns in Braxton County had their own high schools in years before consolidation, so graduates want to come back to their towns and schools for reunions. There are meetings, picnics, parties, musicians and parades for a summer weekend when the old schools are remembered every year.
Memorial Day, 4th of July, Veteran’s Day and Christmas, all mean a parade will be organized somewhere in the county. Burnsville has started sponsoring a Freedom Festival at the dam to honor the 4th. Food, various vendors, and fireworks are there, so the Freedom Festival has become very popular.
Braxton County offers some lovely views of hills and hollers, sunrises and sunsets, autumn leaves and red bud blooms, as well as friendly, helpful people to meet. Visitors are welcome!”