William Alvin Andrews, Sr.

William Alvin Andrews, Sr., 65, of Dinwiddie County, died Monday, March 07, 2016. Born in Petersburg, VA he was the son of the late Martin Harvey and Rosa Traylor Andrews. After graduating from Petersburg High School, Billy enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served from 1968 to 1972. He traveled the world aboard the U.S.S. Independence, was a member of the ship’s Crash Crew and became a welder. Following his military service, he worked at the Naval Shipyard and on many bridge building projects in the area. Much of Billy’s life was devoted to fire service. In 1979, he joined Namozine Volunteer Fire Department and served in numerous positions throughout the years. He became a career firefighter in 1982 with the Hopewell Fire Department, retiring in 2005. Billy continued to serve the citizens of Dinwiddie County in a volunteer capacity as Fire Marshal 2 until 2015. He attended Oak Grove United Methodist Church. Billy loved the outdoors, riding motorcycles, hunting, fishing, and camping. He is survived by his children, Marie Andrews Grant and William Alvin Andrews, Jr. and wife, Kristin; devoted partner and friend, Cheri Lynn Smith, and her children, Randy Foster (Annie Bolick) and Tabitha Downey (David.) He is also survived by his grandchildren, Charlie and Harry Grant, Josiah Andrews, Evan, Alexis, and Owen Foster, Eli and Emily Downey; the mother of his children and special friend, Judy Langster; sisters, Carol Andrews Kellett and Margaret Andrews Vaughan (Tommy); and a brother, Donald Harvey Andrews. A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2016 at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home with Rev. Joyce Harville officiating. Interment will follow at Southlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or American Cancer Society, 4240 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .