Signed Copies Now Available
The Battle of Raymond
and Other Collected Stories
A Special Book Donation
from Rebecca Blackwell “Becky” Drake
Signed copies of The Battle of Raymond and Other Collected Stories by Rebecca Blackwell Drake are now available through Friends of Raymond.
$40 - Mississippi sales tax and shipping included
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Order Online Here
You can order online or send your payment and shipping address to
P.O. Box 1000 Raymond, MS 39154
All books will be shipped within 7 to 10 working days.
Proceeds from the sale of these donated books benefit Friends of Raymond and its historic preservation efforts.
About The Book
First published in 2000 and now in its fourth printing, The Battle of Raymond and Other Collected Stories preserves important stories from the history of Raymond, Mississippi, and the surrounding area.
The book includes a history of Raymond along with 19 stories about the Battle of Raymond and is richly illustrated with photographs from the 1998 reenactment of the battle.
For those interested in Raymond history, the Battle of Raymond, the Civil War in Mississippi, or local historic preservation, the book offers a special collection of stories assembled by someone who has spent decades researching and sharing the area's history.
Through the generosity of Rebecca Blackwell “Becky” Drake, 100 copies of the book were donated to Friends of Raymond in September 2026.
These signed copies are being offered for $40 each, including Mississippi sales tax and shipping, with proceeds benefiting Friends of Raymond. Quantities are limited.
Pattie Snowball, Debbe Tillman, Bridget Smith, Isla Tullos,
Clarke Stewart, Rebecca Drake, Alan Polk and Parker Hills.
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Book Donation to Friends of Raymond
By Parker Hills
At the September 2026 meeting of the Friends of Raymond Board of Directors, Rebecca Blackwell “Becky” Drake graciously donated 100 copies of her book, first printed in 2000 and now in its fourth printing, The Battle of Raymond and Other Collected Stories. This book includes a history of Raymond, Mississippi, as well as 19 stories about the Battle of Raymond, and is richly illustrated with photographs of the 1998 reenactment of the battle.
Becky and her husband James “Jim” Drake are longtime residents of Raymond, where both have been actively involved in historical preservation. Becky first began writing history articles in 1984 for the Hinds County Gazette, and her desire to disseminate knowledge steered her to her first book in 2000. Ever in the background, Jim assisted with methodical historical research and expert layout design.
Becky, a native of Ellisville, Mississippi, holds a master’s degree in piano performance from the Louisiana State University School of Music. In 1965 she began teaching music at Hinds Community College in Raymond, and taught and performed at the school for 20 years. She eventually developed her love for history and its plethora of personalities, with her primary focus on the nearby Civil War battles of Raymond and Champion Hill.
Jim, a native of Reading, Michigan, earned his master’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan State University. When his work led him to the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Jim met the Southern Belle Becky. A North-South compromise was eventually reached, and Jim became a Mississippian. They married in 1969 and have lived in Raymond from that day forward.
The non-profit historical preservation group, Friends of Raymond, has been blessed over the years with many gracious supporters, and the latest gift of the Drakes is greatly appreciated.