Rev. Willie Ben Andrews

The angel of the Lord came to welcome Reverend Willie Ben Andrews (affectionately called “Ben”) home on June 22, 2022 at Piedmont hospital. His earthly life began on January 24, 1940 the third child was born to the late Oliver and Onar Andrews in Hancock County Sparta, Georgia.

He attended Union School in the Mayfield community, Sparta, Ga. where he also became a baptized member of the Union Baptist Church. As a teenager, he moved from the family farm to Atlanta Georgia where he was a laborer. He retired from Bonded Warehouse Services after over 30 years of service as an operator and a mechanic. After hearing the call of the Lord, Willie Ben Andrews became an ordained minister that loved sharing the gospel. He also loved gardening, fishing and frying his favorite foods on Friday. He called it “Fry”-day.

Reverend Andrews is preceded in death by his wife Christeal, his sons, Keith and Willie. His siblings, Oliver Jr, David, Wylene, Mark and Richard.

He was married to Thelma Gresham and to this union five children were born.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his children: Timothy (Freda), Terry, Mario (Charmion), Dante (Cortney), Robin, Rico, Gretel and Nakesha. His sisters, Willie Bell Minor, Dorothy Merriweather (Earnest), Annie Andrews, Juanita Hull(Robert) and Pearl Ivey(Eddie), sister in-law, Georgia Andrews and brother in-law, Leonard Ivey. He leaves behind a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 from 5-8 p.m., and Thursday, July 7, 2022 from 11 a.m. until 12 noon at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 5755 Mallory Road,

College Park, GA 30349, where a Celebration of Life service will follow at 12 noon.

Burial will be held in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens.