Betty Taylor Drake

Betty Taylor Drake, 93, loving mother, grandmother and aunt, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026. She was born in Jacksonville, FL to Alice May Zinky and Harry Roland Taylor, Jr., and raised in Madison, AL where she lived for most of her life.

After graduating from Huntsville High School in 1948 at the age of 16, Betty worked as a stenographer until 1952. She was later employed as the City Clerk for the City of Madison, AL, a job she loved for nearly 30 years. Her colorful life included a run for US Congress in 1980 as a Libertarian candidate. In the early 1980s, Betty was a driving force along with former Congressman Bud Cramer in the creation of the first ever National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville. That center became a model for over 1000 centers that now exist worldwide, and it remains an enduring legacy of her life. For her efforts, Betty was recently honored at the NCAC 40th Anniversary Gala held on Sept 4, 2025.

After retiring in 1994 Betty enjoyed painting, gardening, spending time at the beach, and living life to the fullest. In 2010, she married her cherished childhood friend, Billy Nolan Drake, and they spent many happy years together before his death in 2020.

In addition to her husband, Betty was preceded in death by her sister, Sarah Taylor Stoner, her daughter, Debi Benson Bradford, and her granddaughter, Tina Williams. She is survived by her daughter, Bobbie Benson King, granddaughter Kayla Fullam (Clint), great-grandchildren Sophie Williams, Victoria Pábon (Anthony), and Millie Fullam, niece Alice Petty (Danny), nephew John Stoner (Melanie), many great-nieces and great-nephews, and her beloved and faithful dog, Buddy.

A visitation will be held on January 11 from 11:00am - 12:30pm at Legacy Chapel Funeral Home with burial following at Maple Hill Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the community and staff of The Neighborhood at Madison where Betty happily resided the last year of her life. We are truly grateful for the wonderful care, friendships, and fun outings and activities she enjoyed there.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored if memorial donations were made to the National Children's Advocacy Center (https://www.nationalcac.org/get-involved/individual-giving/).