LaVone Andrews

Obituary

On August 22, 1939, LaVone Thomas was born to the late Willie James Thomas and Zeltha Thomas in Pelham, Georgia. LaVone has two sisters, Betty Ann Bell, Lera Paul and on brother Willie James Thomas.

LaVone attended Mitchell County Training School in Pelham, Georgia. She moved to Washington, D.C. to live with her father and attended high school after her parents divorced. She graduated in 1957 and moved to Jamaica, New York to live with her Aunt Lucille and Uncle Sam (her mother’s brother). She met and married Thomas Andrews in 1958 at the age of 19. They gave birth to Thomas James, Dorothy LaVone, LaVone Maria and Alexander Emanuel Andrews.

She graduated from Nassau Beauty School in 1970 and ran a home-based beauty salon business. She went back to school in 1994 and earned an Associates Degree in Business. LaVone was enterprising and ambitious and installed the same virtues in her children.

On July 2000, she was baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness after studying with the organization for many years. She loved being with her witness brothers and sisters and loved helping those in need. She was quite the celebrity chef in her congregation, always willing to prepare some of her famous dishes to help those too ill to cook for themselves. She hosted many social events at her home, opening it up to fellowship with her extended witness family. If you lookup the word “hospitality” in the dictionary, you will see a picture of LaVone with welcoming outstretch arms and a room lighting smile. Events at her home never fell short of Standing Room Only celebrations filled with love and good eating. No one ever left less than full, without a plate of good eating for the next day, and encouragement to continue their ministry.

She is survived by her brother Willie James Thomas, Sisters Betty Ann Bell and Lera Paul. Her Children, Dorothy LaVone Andrews, LaVone Maria Piper and Alexander Emanuel Andrews. Her grandchildren, LaVone Andrews-Fergensen, Tiffany Jade Boohene, Robert Alexander Piper, Joseph William Piper, Alisha Marie Andrews, Natalie Rose Andrews, Joshua Thomas Andrews, Michael James, Thomika Andrews and five great grands, Reginald, Jr., Carnell, Jaylin and Omari Hawkins and Zoe Andrews; and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.

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