Emma Dorothy Stewart Andrews

Emma Dorothy Stewart Andrews, age 100 years, 3 months, and 8 days, was born on February 1, 1925, in Lawrence County, TN to Ivan Franklin “Dudley” and Tenna Belle Welch Stewart.

She was raised in Lawrence County where the family were sharecroppers, necessitating frequent moves. She attended Leoma Elementary School and after finishing 8th grade, as was the custom during the depression years, she left school to begin working to help support and care for her family. She had considered joining the military, but the needs of her family came first. On turning 18 she began working at the Slant and Slant Garment Factory in Lawrenceburg, and from that time on she held several jobs in the garment industry in Lawrence and Wayne Counties.

In the middle 40’s while taking a bus trip to Nashville, TN to see the popular Grand Ole Opry, she met a young man named Doyle Andrews. With no other seats available on the bus, they were forced to sit together. This started a lasting, unbreakable bond and they were united in marriage on May 4, 1946. To this union, three daughters and one son were born.

Much later, she and Doyle started a small grocery store and mechanic shop. Andrews Grocery Store and Garage became a fixture in the Bethlehem Community. They worked together in this adventure for more than 25 years.

They would celebrate 49 years together before Doyle succumbed to heart disease in December 1995.

Dorothy loved crocheting and doing Find-A-Word and jigsaw puzzles. She was ready and willing to go traveling, shopping, or visiting at the drop of a hat. Just say the word and she would grab her purse and head out the door. She loved her flowers and was an avid gardener. She was a faithful member and was also the oldest member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, where she was saved and baptized in the late 50’s.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and all her siblings; also sons-in-law Norman Hanback and Dennis Creecy, and her best friend, Emogene Nelson.

She is survived by daughters, Sue Hanback of Florence, AL, Linda (H.D.) Luker of West Point, TN, Janice Creecy of West Point, TN; a son, Doyle Ray (Donna) Andrews of Lawrenceburg, TN; nine grandchildren, Shane Luker, Ryan Luker, Jake (Cheryl) Luker, LeAnn (Todd) Gordon, Andrea Woodall, Brian (Kim) Hanback, Bradley (Ashley) Hanback, Brooke (Carl Smith) Lanier, and Emily (Brandon) Miller; two step-grandsons, Will (Dawn) Hurt and Rick (Tammy) Hurt; fourteen great-grandchildren, Jessie (Steven) Kelsey, Drew (Darbee) Luker, Kaycee and Kandace Luker, Cobe, Bryson, and Aniston Gordon, Maygan Woodall, Kadence, Clayton, Annabelle, and Luke Hanback, Hayden Wanket, and Sydney Andrews; six great-great-grandchildren, Brooks Luker, Lakai, Aiden, and Silas Kelsey, Asher and Rosalee Wanket.

Funeral services began at 2:00 PM on Monday, May 12, 2025 at Bethlehem Baptist Church with Brant Sanders and Jerry Robbins officiating. Interment followed in the Bethlehem Cemetery.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers included Shane, Ryan, Jake, and Drew Luker; Todd, Cobe, and Bryson Gordon; Brian and Bradley Hanback.

Those honored to serve as honorary pallbearers included H.D. Luker, Cheryl Luker, Sheryl Robertson, Allison Pounders, Kennedy Pigg, and Brenda Dickey.

Bates-Love Funeral and Cremation is honored to serve the Andrews family.