Mary Veal Andrews

Mrs. Mary Veal Andrews, age 91, of Deepstep, passed away Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Washington County Extended Care Facility.  A graveside funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 9th at 2:00 p.m. in Deepstep Methodist Church Cemetery.  Reverend Jimmy Harris will officiate. For family and friends who would like to pay their respects, Mrs. Andrews will lie in state in May and Smith Funeral Home from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday and 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon on Tuesday.

Mrs. Andrews was born March 18, 1929 and died just 12 days before her 92nd birthday.  She was preceded in death by: her husband, Nathaniel Francis Andrews; her daughter, Barbara Gail Andrews; her parents, James Wright Veal and Fannie Ruth Martin Veal; her sisters Grace Veal Harris and her husband Cyrus, Ann Veal Pittman and her husband Buford, and her twin sister, Martha Veal Helton and her husband Ernie and three nephews, Darryl Glenn Harris, Terry L. Pittman and James Phillips Pittman.

A native of Deepstep, Mrs. Andrews graduated from the ninth grade at Deepstep Elementary School and from Sandersville High School in 1946.  In January 1980 she completed a correspondence course in Accredited Records Techniques. Wherever Mrs. Andrews worked or whatever she did, she was dedicated, conscientious and paid attention to detail.

Mrs. Andrews married Francis Andrews in June 1948 and in 1951 they moved to Milledgeville.  While in Milledgeville, she participated in fund-raising events for afflicted children.  She was an excellent seamstress, homemaker, and loving wife to her husband of 59 years and a loving and caring mother for 20 years to her invalid daughter, Gail.  After losing Gail in January 1970, Mrs. Andrews worked for Central State Hospital for 21 years, retiring as a clerk senior.  In 1980, they purchased the A.G. Veal home place in Deepstep and returned to live in this big house while they upgraded it.

Mrs. Andres accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in 1963 and was baptized at Hardwick Baptist Church.  Upon moving to Deepstep, she moved her membership to Smyrna Baptist Church, where she was Smyrna's oldest member.  At Smyrna, Mrs. Andrews served on the pulpit and finance committees, sang in the church choir, and was the church's assistant pianist.   She was a Gideon Auxiliary member and served the auxiliary in many roles.  In the late 1980's through the 1990's she and her husband joined Carpenters for Christ where they helped build approximately 14 churches over the entire United States.  She actively supported another church in each Alaska, Hawaii and Canada.  She was a member of the Merrie Makers choral group in Milledgeville until she quit night driving.  This group sang religious songs at various events.  Mrs. Andrews and her husband loved gospel music and knew personally many of the traveling quartet groups in their area.  They traveled to hear all of them when possible.

Mrs. Andrews, in her late 80's and at 90, looked after her twin sister, Martha, during Martha's failing health.  After both lost their husbands, these sisters were almost inseparable.

Mrs. Andrews was an independent person and one that loved to garden.  Six months of trying to regain her abilities following two strokes, she said that her life was anything but pleasant.  She said, "Nobody Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus and to die in the Lord would be a Sweet By and By."

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the at-home caretakers and to the doctors and nurses at ECF Nursing home for their love and care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 495, St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38101-9801 or to Gideons International, Processing Center, P.O. Box 97251, Washington DC 20090-7251.

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements. www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com