Dr. Thad Leggett Andrews, 87, passed away at
Indywood Glen Personal Care Home in Greenwood on
Tuesday, September 13, 2016. Thad was born on February
27, 1929 in Magnolia, Mississippi to Fred Clifton and
Pauline Overcash Andrews. He graduated from Marion
Military Institute in Marion, Alabama in 1945, then went
on to Ole Miss, where he received his bachelor's degree
in May of 1948. Thad then attended dental school at
Emory University School of Dentistry in Atlanta and
graduated in 1952.
Thad served his country in the U.S. Air Force
Dental Corps and was stationed in Prestwick, Scotland
from 1953 to 1955, during the Korean Conflict. He then
practiced dentistry in Lexington, Ms. from 1955 to 1956,
after which time he moved to Greenwood and practiced
from 1957 to 2008. After he retired at 79 years of age,
Thad often talked about how much he missed his patients.
Some loyal patients had been with him for 50 years or
more.
An avid golfer, duck hunter and fisherman, Thad was
a long-time member of the Leflore County Hunting and
Fishing Association. He served on the Board of
Directors of the Kiwanis Club, the Board of Governors of
the Greenwood Country Club, and as Secretary and later
President of the Second District of Mississippi Dental
Association.
2
Thad grew up attending Magnolia, Ms. Presbyterian
Church and was a member of First Presbyterian Church of
Greenwood, Ms. since 1957, where he served as a Deacon
and later an Elder.
After being married for 42 years, Thad lost the
love of his life in November of 2011, Alice Herring
Andrews. Thad's siblings, Billie Andrews Brock (Ralph),
McComb, Mississippi, Paul Andrews (Janice), Huntsville,
Texas, and Hinton Andrews (Jane) have also predeceased
him.
The stepdaughters Thad leaves behind are Jeanie
Johnson, Flowood, Ms., and Gaylen Howell, Cleveland, Ms.
He will be sorely missed by his loving grandchildren:
Kevin Steed (Stephanie), Grenada, Ms.; Shae Howell Davis
(Clint), Cleveland, Ms.; Holly Howell Sanders (Michael),
Cleveland, Ms.; Clint Johnson (Eugenia), Flowood, Ms.;
Cassie Howell Graves (Matt), Jackson, Ms.; Daniel
Johnson, Houston, TX., and Taylor Howell (Jordan),
Memphis, TN. Thad also leaves behind ten great
grandchildren who affectionately called him Papa Thad or
Poppy. Two of his great grandchildren, Drew Davis and
Leggett Steed, are his namesakes. Uncle Thad will also
be missed by several nieces and nephews.
The family extends a special thank you to the
Indywood staff and to Grace Hospice for tirelessly and
compassionately caring for our loved one.
Pallbearers will be Kevin Steed, Clint
Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Taylor Howell, Bo Howell, Bill
Andrews and Will Andrews. Honorary pallbearer will be Fraiser Shipley.
Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday,
September 16, 2016 at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home in
Greenwood, followed by a graveside service at 11:00 a.m. in the Sidon
Cemetery, Sidon, Ms. In lieu of flowers, memorials may
be made to First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood or
Sidon Cemetery Assn.