Drake, Thelma (Thelma Day), 1949-

Thelma Day Drake (born November 20, 1949) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, she represented Virginia's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009.

Born Thelma Mary Day in Elyria, Ohio, she attended both Elyria Catholic High School and Elyria High School there. She later attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She left Ohio at age 17 and relocated to Norfolk, Virginia, with her first husband, a Navy serviceman. In 1974 she married Joe Sawyer, but this marriage also ended in divorce. She married Thomas E. (Ted) Drake in 1990. When she settled in Norfolk, she became active in local civic organizations—including the Granby High School PTA. She also was active in the local Republican Party. Drake eventually settled into a career in real estate. As a successful agent for more than 20 years, Drake developed a base of connections throughout the Norfolk area. In 1995 she won election to the house of delegates, where she served five consecutive terms.

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