Lifenotes: Nelson Andrews
Respected civic and business leader Nelson Andrews passed away on June 13 after a battle with leukemia. He was 82. As the founder of Leadership Nashville, he was also a great supporter of Leadership Music. On the business front, he was very successful, including being founder and chairman of the board of real estate firm Brookside Properties. He was a music lover who enjoyed picking guitar and singing harmony with Eddy Arnold.
“His gift of these programs to Nashville and our music community is only one of his many philanthropic endeavors,” recalls Leadership Music Executive Director Kira Florita. “Many of us will agree there is no one we have ever known who more embodied the term ‘leadership’ than Nelson Andrews. He will be greatly missed.”
Funeral and visitation will be at Saint George’s Episcopal Church
Visitation: Monday, June 15, 4-7 PM
Funeral: Tuesday, June 16 at 3 PM with reception following
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
Mr. Andrews is survived by his wife, Susan Adams Andrews, daughters Susan Toy and Judith, sons Nelson Carter Andrews Jr., Ladam “Lep” Gillespie Andrews, and Frank Maxwell Andrews.
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Nelson Andrews was a man of almost mythical standards and herculean accomplishments in Nashville. His community service is unparalleled. That he took the time to be involved in the music industry and undertook the task of bridging the gap between the Nashville community at large and the music industry with everything else in his life is a testament to his commitment to all of us calling music city our home, and to his love and appreciation of music. Whether it was his involvement with the Country Music Foundation or his establishment of Leadership Music, he has influenced the course of the Nashville music industry in a way that even major players in our industry have to admire and marvel about. Just as people wonder “who’s going to fill their shoes?” about certain pioneering artists, you must ask yourself “who’s going to fill the shoes of men like Nelson Andrews?” in making our industry and our community a better one. I am chairing the Precious Jewels campaign to save Mother Maybelle’s guitar and Bill Monroe’s mandolin (as well as two Johnny Cash guitars) for Nashville and the Country Music Hall of Fame. I saw the list of individual donors the other day and there have only been a surprising few individual donations from anyone in Nashville – but the list included Nelson and Sue Andrews. In our hour of need, they were there. There are many other organizations and individuals that can undoubtedly say the same about Nelson and Sue. As the grandparents to my three daughters I admit to a lack of objectivity on this subject but I challenge us all to follow in his steps and make this industry and community a better place. May he rest in peace and may our forefathers and foremothers in Country Music make room for him in Hillbilly Heaven.