John David ("J. D.") Andrews, 93, of Ocala, Florida, and a long-time resident of Siler City, died on August 25. J. D. was born April 3, 1920 to John & Georgia Ruth Andrews in rural Chatham County & was raised on the family farm on Harold Andrews Road. J. D. was the 12th of 13 children. He attended Siler City schools until he had to drop out to help with the family farm.
He married LaVerna York of Ramseur, N. C. on January 18, 1941. They lived & worked in Ramseur a few years before making Siler City their home for almost 50 years. In the early years he was a salesman for Chatham Foods. In 1957 J. D. along with partners Marshall McDaniel, Archie Brower & Curtis Moore formed Carolina Poultry & bought the A R Pugh building in Bonlee. Carolina Poultry moved to Siler City in 1964 and moved into a new plant on US 64 east. Gails Phillips & Glen Routh merged their hatchery and feed business with Carolina Poultry and operated as partners for the next 18 years. When they sold to Lane Processing in 1981, Carolina Poultry was processing up to 300,000 chickens a week.
J. D. & LaVerna retired in 1981 and for the next years spent the winter months in Naples, FL. They were members of the Siler City Country Club. J. D. was a member of the First Wesleyan Church in Siler City, starting to attend with his family in 1927. He served as a member of the Local Board of Administration at the church. He also served as a trustee at Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC.

After the death of his wife LaVerna in 1991, in 1993 he married Audrey Iverson of Naples, FL. In 2005, J. D. and Audrey relocated to Ocala, FL.

J. D. was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, LaVerna, his parents and all 12 of his siblings. He is survived by his wife, Audrey, and a daughter Priscilla Sanders of Denton, TX, a son Rev. Fred ( Sonnie) of Central, SC and a son Jerry ( Betty) of Crescent City, FL. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Scott Sanders of Chicago, IL, Melanie Strickland of Cumming, GA and Allyson Andrews of Nashville, TN & four great-grandsons: Andy, Alex, Aaron & Hayden. Other survivors include several neices & nephews living in the Siler City area.

The family will hold visitation at the Smith & Buckner Funeral Home in Siler City on Friday, August 30 from 6:00 - 8:00PM. The funeral service will be at First Wesleyan Church in Siler City on August 31 at 2:00 PM. A private graveside service will be held at Kildee Wesleyan Church cemetery.

The family requests in place of flowers, memorials be made to the Andrews Family Scholarship at Southern Wesleyan University, 907 Wesleyan Drive, Central, SC 29630. This scholarship was established in 1991 and has been providing education with a Christian perspective for deserving young people.

Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com