Mr. Gerald David Andrews, age 83, of Sandersville died on Thursday, April 20, at his residence following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 24, at 2:00 P.M. in the First Baptist Church of Sandersville with burial in the Brownwood Cemetery in Sandersville. Minister Marlon Lastinger, Rev. Lee Lacey and Rev. Andy Yates will officiate.  Pallbearers will be Sandy Mercer, Sidney Law, Sonny Barksdale, Greg Phillips, Thomas Tyson, Paul Turner, Mike Sheppard and Tommy Walker.

Mr. Andrews was a native of Worth County, Georgia, the son of the late Jesse D Andrews and the late Aline Raines Andrews.   He graduated in 1951 from Warwick School, attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for two years then transferred to the University of Georgia graduating in June of 1955 with B.S. in agriculture.  His major was Agronomy and minors in Plant Pathology and Animal Science.  He started to work for the Cooperative Extension Service on July 1, 1955 in a temporary position as Assistant County Agent for Tift County.  He transferred to Washington County in January of 1956 as Assistant County Agent.  He served as the Washington County Extension Director from 1970 until he retired on April 1, 1989.  He held many positions over the years with the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and received distinguished service awards from the National County Agents Association and the Georgia Association.  Mr. Andrews was involved in many areas of service in Washington County including his contributions to agriculture, his participation in the Georgia Farm Bureau on a county and state level, serving as secretary of the Georgia Duroc Association and developing programs for agricultural commodities in Washington County. He was a member and past president of the Sandersville Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow, Ag Georgia Farm Credit Director and President of the Washington County Farm Bureau since 1997. He was a member and Deacon of the First Baptist Church of Sandersville. In 1989 he was instrumental in reviving the Washington County Agriculture and Youth Fair and continued to take a lead role in planning and presenting the Fair each year until 2014.  He was appointed Director of the Georgia Association of Agricultural Fairs in 2003 and was named Fairman of the year in 2017.

Survivors are his wife of 59 years, Carol Shiver Andrews of Sandersville, a daughter, Tamara Andrews Yates and her husband Andy of Sandersville, a son, Gerald Andrews, Jr and his wife Erin of Eatonton, five grandchildren, Andrew Yates, Trey Andrews, Daniel Andrews, Tyler Simmons and Sherri Simmons.

The family will receive friends at May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. on Sunday.

May and Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville is in charge of the arrangements.