FRANKLIN—In a joint project, the city of Franklin and the Downtown Franklin Association will recognize an important former member of the community Friday evening.

A dedication of the gazebo at Barrett’s Landing and a special marker to Nanci Drake, who lived in Franklin from 1990 to 2001, will begin between 8 and 8:30 p.m. during the Franklin Fall Festival block party.

Drake was Main Street Project Manager and was instrumental in obtaining the grants that funded the development of Barrett’s Landing. The land had been donated by Katharine Barrett.

Drake was also a driving force in getting businesses back up and running after Hurricane Floyd caused flooding to the downtown in 1999. Drake accepted a job in Bedford in 2001.

She died in her sleep last year on Dec. 2 at her home in Bedford. Shortly thereafter, the city adopted a resolution in remembrance of Drake and presented her family with the resolution and a special plaque during a local service celebrating her life, which was most appropriately held at Barrett’s Landing.

The special marker that will be placed near the monument measuring the floodwaters on the corner at Barrett’s, will be a granite footstone with two attached granite tiles.

According to Barbara Tatum, close friend of Drake’s, one tile will depict a gray-scaled laser print from a photograph of Drake. The other tile will read:

Nanci Drake

For her love and dedication to the city of Franklin and in grateful appreciation for all she was to our community, we commemorate her life and work by dedicating this—the Nanci Drake Gazebo.

Dedicated the 5th Day of October 2007.