GASTON HERBERT ANDREWS

June 2, 1920 ~ December 4, 2016 (age 96)

Gaston Herbert Andrews, Jr. known by the family and friends as “Junior” was the youngest child of Gaston Herbert Andrews, Sr. and Catherine Elizabeth Bright-Miller born June 2, 1920 in Bolivar, (Hardeman County), Tennessee. At the age of two Gaston’s mother died and he was raised by his father, his paternal grandmother Lula Andrews (Mam Lou) and by his paternal great grandmother Martha Norment Hill Gaston grew up in a loving happy home with his older brother and three sisters. Gaston began school in a one classroom building in Hardeman County during the Great Depression and money was tight, but his father found a way to send all his children to school. While attending high school many of his teachers instilled in him many good values which he carried in his heart until his death.

His funeral service was held on Sunday December 11, 2016 at 1:30 pm at Greater Springfield MB Church- Bolivar, TN with Pastor Robert Parham in charge.  Burial was in the Bolivar Community Cemetery and Dixie Funeral Home www.dixiefuneralhome.com was in charge of the professional service

While a student at Allen White High School, Gaston worked with his father at the Bolivar Cotton Gin. He did not like working at the cotton gin and wanted to better himself so after graduating from High School he enrolled at Tennessee State A & I College in Nashville, TN. While a student at Tennessee A & I he worked cleaning stables as his work study assignment to make ends meet, and after one semester transferred to Lane College. He needed money to continue his education, so he enlisted in the Army in 1941. Gaston served his county from 1941-1945 during World War II. He was in Antonio, Texas where he trained as an interviewer/classifier. Gaston was promoted to the rank of 3rd Sergeant while at Fort Sam Houston, and was transferred back to Fort Benning to establish reception center for Black soldiers from the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida. One of his main responsibilities was teaching the new recruits to read and write. While in the Army, Gaston received the American Defense Service Medal, the American Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. In 2012, he received a proclamation and letter of appreciation for his service to his county from the Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.

After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1945, Gaston continued his studies at Lane College and graduated May 1949. While at Lane he became a member of the Kappa Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Fraternity, Inc. Gaston further studied at Purdue University in Lafayette, IN and Fisk University in Nashville. After graduating from Lane College, he became a teacher in Hardeman County beginning his career at Rueben School. He later taught History, Geography, Sociology, Civics, and Economics. History was his favorite subject and he loved to talk to the students about the many wars that our county was involved in and why. Gaston also served as the girls’ basketball coach at the high school. He retired from teaching after 32 years of service in 1982.

His service to mankind was exemplified through his efforts in the church and community. He dedicated his life to Christ at an early age and joined Greater Springfield MB Church where he was a faithful member for over 70 years and served as Adult Sunday school teacher, the Deacon Board, Financial Secretary/Church Clerk, and he was also on the building Fund Committee. Gaston was also a member of the American Legion Post in Bolivar,

June 6, 1944, D-Day, the day United States troops invaded France. That was also the day that Gaston eloped with his class sweetheart Mabel Louise McKinnie, who had just graduated from Lane College.  They were married for 72 years before his beloved wife Mabel passed away on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016. Gaston’s heart was broken and twenty-four days later he joined his beloved wife, Mabel in Heaven. Gaston was known for his love and devotion to his family. Never one to shy away from hard work, he refereed high school basketball games and painted with his buddy, Usley Woods to supplement his teachers salary. After his retirement, he loved to collect cans for his Christmas gift money for his loved ones. He loved to read and watch westerns on TV. He always looked forward to visits from his childhood friend James Munford, and enjoyed attending reunions of his Army unit at Fort Benning each year.

Gaston was loved and cherished by his family. He leaves to hold his memory his two children; Ruby Elizabeth (Douglas) Pleasure, Pacifica, CA; and Gaston Jeffrey (JoEtta) Andrews, Montgomery, AL. He leaves five grandchildren: Marcy (Rodney) Ivy, Okolona, MS; Melissa Andrews, Antioch, TN; Nicholas (Sarah) Pleasure, Wilsonville, OR; Melody Andrews, Greensboro, NC; Michelle Andrews, Huntsville, AL; and two great grandchildren, Donovan and Jamilla Ivy, one great great grandchild, Royce Amir Ivy. He also leaves two sisters Dr. Ila Wells of Bolivar, TN and Nancy Clemons of East Saint Louis, MO; four sisters-in-law Ruby G. Kennedy and Elizabeth McKinnie of Bolivar, TN; Anna Hodges, Upper Marlboro, MD; and Ruth Strahorn, Cincinnati, OH; one brother-in-law Dr. Fred Lofton, Memphis, TN; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, relatives, and a loving church family. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters’, Ruth, Jimmie, Catherine Elizabeth II, and brother, Donald. 

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