Born in Salem, MA, "Andy" was raised in Topsfield, MA coming to South Carolina in 1948 with the Navy (stationed at Charleston then being transferred to Parris Island, Beaufort, SC). Upon leaving the Navy, he became a civil service employee working at the fire station on Parris Island & then the Charleston Air Force Base.
In 1968-69 he, along with Ashton Syfrett, started the very first volunteer fire department in Walterboro, S.C. Firefighting was his life & there was no visiting a new town, or one he had not visited in quite some time, without stopping at the local fire station to check out the trucks. He was also schooled in many areas of firefighting, attending many schools and classes throughout his employment.
He was known to his family & friends as "Andy" & was married 45 years to the former Minnie Martha Lee Hiott passing away from cancer on Father's Day just two days after their 45th wedding anniversary thus I believe allowing his loving wife to say, "We were together for 45 years". They met in Beaufort when my mother worked in the hospital canteen and my dad was in the Navy. Just a few months after they started seeing one another my dad learned he would be leaving for Korea and told my mom they had to get married. My mother, having been through one bad marriage and with two small children, told him when he came back from Korea, if he still wanted to get married, they would discuss it. He said, "No, we'll get married BEFORE I leave so that you and those babies can be taken care of." He was always thinking of others first. They were married June 14, 1951 in Beaufort, SC before he left for Korea.
My dad was a dedicated family man, the hardest of workers and the most respected man I think I have ever known. He had no enemies and would have gladly given the shirt off of his back to anyone in need. There has never been an unkind word spoken of this kindhearted gentle soul - a teddy bear of a man.
Always one to stay busy and even after his retirement from civil service, my dad was employed at John C. Calhoun Academy and Walterboro Auto Electric, upon his semi-retirement, he enjoyed his part time job at Advance Auto Parts, speaking to everyone who came in as everyone in Colleton County knew "Mr. Andy". He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Walterboro.
He and Martha had one daughter, Lisa, together; he was also survived by two step-children whom he always referred to as HIS children as well, Linda & Robert, who will always remember him lovingly as THEIR dad! When asked how many children he had he never hesitated to say, "I have 3 precious children - 2 daughters and a son!" He also leaves behind his one and only grandson, Matthew Thomas Garbett.
Also surviving are his dear son-in-law Thomas of Mt. Pleasant, SC; nieces Janet & Susan and nephew David all of MA.
He was preceded in death by his parents Alfred Nelson & Gladys and one brother Nelson all of MA. He met his dear sister-in-law, Pauline, also of MA on God's golden shores April 11, 2007. Brother, Donald Cole Andrews, died in March 2007.
In 1968-69 he, along with Ashton Syfrett, started the very first volunteer fire department in Walterboro, S.C. Firefighting was his life & there was no visiting a new town, or one he had not visited in quite some time, without stopping at the local fire station to check out the trucks. He was also schooled in many areas of firefighting, attending many schools and classes throughout his employment.
He was known to his family & friends as "Andy" & was married 45 years to the former Minnie Martha Lee Hiott passing away from cancer on Father's Day just two days after their 45th wedding anniversary thus I believe allowing his loving wife to say, "We were together for 45 years". They met in Beaufort when my mother worked in the hospital canteen and my dad was in the Navy. Just a few months after they started seeing one another my dad learned he would be leaving for Korea and told my mom they had to get married. My mother, having been through one bad marriage and with two small children, told him when he came back from Korea, if he still wanted to get married, they would discuss it. He said, "No, we'll get married BEFORE I leave so that you and those babies can be taken care of." He was always thinking of others first. They were married June 14, 1951 in Beaufort, SC before he left for Korea.
My dad was a dedicated family man, the hardest of workers and the most respected man I think I have ever known. He had no enemies and would have gladly given the shirt off of his back to anyone in need. There has never been an unkind word spoken of this kindhearted gentle soul - a teddy bear of a man.
Always one to stay busy and even after his retirement from civil service, my dad was employed at John C. Calhoun Academy and Walterboro Auto Electric, upon his semi-retirement, he enjoyed his part time job at Advance Auto Parts, speaking to everyone who came in as everyone in Colleton County knew "Mr. Andy". He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Walterboro.
He and Martha had one daughter, Lisa, together; he was also survived by two step-children whom he always referred to as HIS children as well, Linda & Robert, who will always remember him lovingly as THEIR dad! When asked how many children he had he never hesitated to say, "I have 3 precious children - 2 daughters and a son!" He also leaves behind his one and only grandson, Matthew Thomas Garbett.
Also surviving are his dear son-in-law Thomas of Mt. Pleasant, SC; nieces Janet & Susan and nephew David all of MA.
He was preceded in death by his parents Alfred Nelson & Gladys and one brother Nelson all of MA. He met his dear sister-in-law, Pauline, also of MA on God's golden shores April 11, 2007. Brother, Donald Cole Andrews, died in March 2007.
Born in Salem, MA, "Andy" was raised in Topsfield, MA coming to South Carolina in 1948 with the Navy (stationed at Charleston then being transferred to Parris Island, Beaufort, SC). Upon leaving the Navy, he became a civil service employee working at the fire station on Parris Island & then the Charleston Air Force Base.
In 1968-69 he, along with Ashton Syfrett, started the very first volunteer fire department in Walterboro, S.C. Firefighting was his life & there was no visiting a new town, or one he had not visited in quite some time, without stopping at the local fire station to check out the trucks. He was also schooled in many areas of firefighting, attending many schools and classes throughout his employment.
He was known to his family & friends as "Andy" & was married 45 years to the former Minnie Martha Lee Hiott passing away from cancer on Father's Day just two days after their 45th wedding anniversary thus I believe allowing his loving wife to say, "We were together for 45 years". They met in Beaufort when my mother worked in the hospital canteen and my dad was in the Navy. Just a few months after they started seeing one another my dad learned he would be leaving for Korea and told my mom they had to get married. My mother, having been through one bad marriage and with two small children, told him when he came back from Korea, if he still wanted to get married, they would discuss it. He said, "No, we'll get married BEFORE I leave so that you and those babies can be taken care of." He was always thinking of others first. They were married June 14, 1951 in Beaufort, SC before he left for Korea.
My dad was a dedicated family man, the hardest of workers and the most respected man I think I have ever known. He had no enemies and would have gladly given the shirt off of his back to anyone in need. There has never been an unkind word spoken of this kindhearted gentle soul - a teddy bear of a man.
Always one to stay busy and even after his retirement from civil service, my dad was employed at John C. Calhoun Academy and Walterboro Auto Electric, upon his semi-retirement, he enjoyed his part time job at Advance Auto Parts, speaking to everyone who came in as everyone in Colleton County knew "Mr. Andy". He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Walterboro.
He and Martha had one daughter, Lisa, together; he was also survived by two step-children whom he always referred to as HIS children as well, Linda & Robert, who will always remember him lovingly as THEIR dad! When asked how many children he had he never hesitated to say, "I have 3 precious children - 2 daughters and a son!" He also leaves behind his one and only grandson, Matthew Thomas Garbett.
Also surviving are his dear son-in-law Thomas of Mt. Pleasant, SC; nieces Janet & Susan and nephew David all of MA.
He was preceded in death by his parents Alfred Nelson & Gladys and one brother Nelson all of MA. He met his dear sister-in-law, Pauline, also of MA on God's golden shores April 11, 2007. Brother, Donald Cole Andrews, died in March 2007.
In 1968-69 he, along with Ashton Syfrett, started the very first volunteer fire department in Walterboro, S.C. Firefighting was his life & there was no visiting a new town, or one he had not visited in quite some time, without stopping at the local fire station to check out the trucks. He was also schooled in many areas of firefighting, attending many schools and classes throughout his employment.
He was known to his family & friends as "Andy" & was married 45 years to the former Minnie Martha Lee Hiott passing away from cancer on Father's Day just two days after their 45th wedding anniversary thus I believe allowing his loving wife to say, "We were together for 45 years". They met in Beaufort when my mother worked in the hospital canteen and my dad was in the Navy. Just a few months after they started seeing one another my dad learned he would be leaving for Korea and told my mom they had to get married. My mother, having been through one bad marriage and with two small children, told him when he came back from Korea, if he still wanted to get married, they would discuss it. He said, "No, we'll get married BEFORE I leave so that you and those babies can be taken care of." He was always thinking of others first. They were married June 14, 1951 in Beaufort, SC before he left for Korea.
My dad was a dedicated family man, the hardest of workers and the most respected man I think I have ever known. He had no enemies and would have gladly given the shirt off of his back to anyone in need. There has never been an unkind word spoken of this kindhearted gentle soul - a teddy bear of a man.
Always one to stay busy and even after his retirement from civil service, my dad was employed at John C. Calhoun Academy and Walterboro Auto Electric, upon his semi-retirement, he enjoyed his part time job at Advance Auto Parts, speaking to everyone who came in as everyone in Colleton County knew "Mr. Andy". He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Walterboro.
He and Martha had one daughter, Lisa, together; he was also survived by two step-children whom he always referred to as HIS children as well, Linda & Robert, who will always remember him lovingly as THEIR dad! When asked how many children he had he never hesitated to say, "I have 3 precious children - 2 daughters and a son!" He also leaves behind his one and only grandson, Matthew Thomas Garbett.
Also surviving are his dear son-in-law Thomas of Mt. Pleasant, SC; nieces Janet & Susan and nephew David all of MA.
He was preceded in death by his parents Alfred Nelson & Gladys and one brother Nelson all of MA. He met his dear sister-in-law, Pauline, also of MA on God's golden shores April 11, 2007. Brother, Donald Cole Andrews, died in March 2007.
