Mary Lou Gilliam Andrews

Mary Lou Gilliam Andrews, 86, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and a resident of the Rock Springs community, died Sunday, February 23, 2020 at Life Care Center of Columbia. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Thursday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Reverend Richard VanCleave officiating. Burial will follow in Rock Springs Cemetery. The family will visit with friends 4 p.m. – 8.pm. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Rock Springs Baptist Church, 2242 Rock Springs Road, Columbia, Tennessee 38401 and Rock Springs Cemetery Association c/o Elizabeth Mefferd, 4034 Commons Drive Spring Hill, Tennessee 37174 Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born October 18, 1933 in Maury County, she was the daughter of the late Edward Riley Gilliam and the late Mary James Rummage Gilliam. On December 8, 1951, she married John William “Sam” Andrews. She worked in the cafeteria at Whitthorne Middle School for 39 years, and was a very talented cook. Mrs. Andrews was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband, John William “Sam” Andrews of Columbia; sons, John Riley (Diane) Andrews of Columbia, Bobby Ray (Lynn) Andrews of Columbia, Billy Wayne (Carol) Andrews of Columbia, and Michael Terry (Barbara) Andrews of Columbia; sister, Ella Mae (Maples) Pylant of Columbia; brother, Joe Wayne Gilliam of Columbia; brother-in-law, Jerry Morton of Columbia; nine grandchildren, Darrel Andrews, Shane Andrews, Kristy Andrews, Nick (Melissa) Andrews, Rebecca Andrews, Mary Beth (Keith) Thomas, Megan Andrews, David Andrews, and Shannon Andrews; nine great grandchildren; and several nieces & nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, William Edward Andrews; grandson, Trinity Ryan Andrews; sister, Betty Ann Morton; and brother, Edward Paul Gilliam. Active pallbearers will include her grandsons & great grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Ray Rummage and members of Rock Springs Baptist Church. The family would like to express a special thank you to her longtime nurse, Jennifer Newell, the staff of Amedisys Home Health Care, and Hospice Compassus.