Russell Wayne Andrews

Russell Wayne Andrews of Columbus, Georgia was a loving husband, father, and grandfather known for his warm sense of humor and service to country and community. He passed away on May 14, 2022, at the age of 83, surrounded by his family in his home.

Wayne was born to Russell Taft Andrews and Eva Simmons Andrews on May 7, 1939, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he grew up working on the family’s farm. In 1961, he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute. After graduating from VMI, he taught high school English in Blue Grass, Virginia for one year. He was commissioned into the US Army and began service in Bamberg, Germany, where he served for three years. From there, he went to Ft. Gordon as a company commander. It was there, in 1965, that he met the love of his life Dannie Hammett on a blind date. He commanded a second company at Ft. Benning, where he completed Basic Airborne Training and the Ranger course. He left for Vietnam on October 4, 1966, where he served for two and a half years—first as an operations officer in the 25th Infantry Division and later as a senior advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Division during the Tet Offensive of 1968. He received the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal with V device for valorous service in combat.

After returning from Vietnam, he received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia, becoming an avid Georgia Bulldog fan. Upon earning his master’s degree, Wayne began working in the Army’s public affairs office. He continued his work in public affairs while stationed in Heidelberg, Germany and later for the US Army in the Pentagon. Wayne’s final duty assignment was as Chief of Public Affairs for Ft. Benning, a position he held until retiring from the Army in 1985. He retired as a lieutenant colonel after 23 years of service.

He then joined Columbus Bank & Trust as Vice President for Military Banking, where he helped open a CB&T branch at Ft. Benning and served soldiers in need of financial and banking services. As a banking professional, Wayne was a director of the Association of Military Banks of America Board of Directors and chair of the Board of Directors.

In his community, Wayne was a ruling elder and Treasurer of First Presbyterian Church, as well as an active member of Rotary Club of Columbus and the Columbus Chamber of Commerce’s Civilian-Military Council, serving a term as chair. He was also chair of the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries, president of the Association of the United States Army Ft. Benning Chapter, and a member of the advisory board for AUSA at the Army level. Wayne and Dannie built a home that became a center for hospitality, hosting countless dinners filled with laughter and dear friends made through the military, CB&T, and their church community.

Wayne retired from CB&T in 2005 and immediately went to work in his garden, building an oasis of bottle trees and hydrangeas in his backyard. He and Dannie, who had long travelled together while Wayne was working, began travelling the globe: from Alaska and Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, the Galapagos and South Africa, and even a mule ride down the Grand Canyon, they saw it all! In 2008, Wayne returned to Vietnam with Dannie, traveling to areas he knew as a soldier and speaking to former Vietcong and North Vietnamese soldiers.

Wayne enjoyed sweet tea, bourbon, reading a good book on the beach, and “lively” conversations. Because of him, his children will always remember the five Ps—prior planning prevents poor performance.

Wayne is survived by Dannie, his wife of 54 years; three children, Elizabeth Graham (Garry), David Andrews (Kelley O’Brien), and Russell Andrews; his sister-in-law, Jane White (John); and two grandchildren, Jin and JeeHoon Andrews, who loved their “Poppy” very much.

The Andrews family would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Preferred Care Hospice and the caregivers who supported Wayne and the entire family in the last few weeks of his life.

Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, May 19 at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Presbyterian Church of Columbus or the National Infantry Museum. For individuals who cannot attend, the services will be livestreamed at www.columbusfpc.org.

To sign the online guest registry, please visit www.shcolumbus.com.