Doris Smith Edrington Andrews

May 23, 1939 – November 17, 2023

Doris was born in Hanover, Coosa County, Alabama to Henry and Catherine Smith. Although she was an only child, she was certainly not a lonely child, growing up with a large extended family of uncles, aunts and cousins. Doris was a devoted member of the Church of God from childhood and formed many lifelong friendships there. She played French horn in the high school marching band and excelled at the pipe organ as well. The “Best Dressed Girl” of B.B. Comer Memorial’s Class of 1959 always maintained a stylish and put-together look.

Doris and Earl Edrington married in 1961 and lived in several states and New Zealand during his 20-year Air Force career. They had three children, all of whom grew up in the Sacramento area, California: Marshall Scott Edrington (Mary); Susan Rebecca Dold, and Steven Micah Edrington (Janett). Although she spent many years in California, when her marriage ended in 1995, she returned to her beloved Sylacauga to care for her aging parents.

In 1996, Doris took a job as a van driver for the town of Oak Grove. That job helped her overcome a weakness in driving directions, and she went on to develop a bookkeeping system for the transportation department and became the Coordinator. In 1997, she moved to the Oak Grove Town Hall, where she served as Receptionist for four mayors; her coworkers became like family to her.

In 1997, Doris renewed a friendship with a good family friend, Eugene Paul Andrews. He came all the way from California for a date, determined to win her heart, and it worked; shortly after, they married. Together, they built a lovely home on the Smith Family property and enjoyed a happy life until his death in 2005.

B.B. Comer’s 50-year reunion brought another old friend back into Doris’s life. Bobby Bates and she had briefly dated in school but lost track of one another as they both married and moved on with their lives. But the reunion rekindled a spark and they spent many happy times together until he was no longer able to visit from his Georgia home due to failing health. He died in 2016.

In 2019, Doris’s own health problems led her to the difficult decision to move to California to be closer to her three children. Alabama was always in her heart, but it was also wonderful for her to spend so much quality time with Steve and Janett, Susan, Scott, and Mary. She was truly ready to meet God and passed peacefully with Steve and Janett at her side.

Doris will be missed by her many friends and extended family. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Victoria Edrington and Carolynne Matsukado (Kobe) and great-grandson, Miles Matsukado.

Services will be held at the Sylacauga Church of God located at 106 South Main Avenue, Sylacauga, Alabama 35150 on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Viewing will be from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, with the main service starting at 11 am. Immediately following the main service, we will be holding a graveside service at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. Lunch will be at 1 pm at the Sylacauga Church of God’s Fellowship Hall. If you would like to share a memory at the funeral or during fellowship, or if you want to attend the service virtually, please email [email protected].