Sebastopol: Services for Mr. Rodney Cooper Andrews will be held 11 am, Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at Sebastopol Baptist Church with burial in the Sulphur Springs Cemetery. Bro. Michael Smith and Bro. Randall Creel will officiate.

Visitation will be held 9 am – 11 am, Wednesday at Sebastopol Baptist Church.

Mr. Andrews, 80, of Sebastopol, died Sunday, June 09, 2024 at his residence.

Rodney Cooper Andrews was born May 13, 1944 to Ellis and Mildred Andrews. He was born at Laird Hospital in Union, MS on his Daddy's birthday.

Ellis and Mildred raised their five children in the Sulphur Springs Community and were members of Sulphur Springs Baptist Church. They were a farming family with cows and chickens, big gardens and lots of wood to cut.

Through the years, Rodney shared many happy childhood memories about what life was like growing up back then. One of the memories he shared was about the time they got a bicycle- ONE bicycle –for all the children to share. Rodney laughed trying to tell how they had to take turns and all the fussing it caused. He also laughed about the time he stuck his toes in Linda's watermelon just to make her cry.

Times weren't always easy back then, but he described them with joy and the love of being part of a big family.

Rodney went to grammar school at "Rabbit College" in the Sulphur Springs community. He attended and graduated from Sebastopol Attendance Center. Not long after graduation, he joined the Air Guard and went to basic training in Texas. After returning, he met Peggy and Sandra and soon married them. Michelle was added to the family in December of 1966. Rodney was later called to active duty in the Air Force. Peggy, Sandra and Michelle moved to Goldsboro, North Carolina to be with him. During that time, the Koreans captured a US Ship and Rodney's unit was deployed. Rodney was in Korea for 4 months preparing for war. In a turn of events, the ship was returned to the US avoiding war, and his unit returned to North Carolina.

After serving his time, Rodney chose not to re-enlist. He moved back to Jackson, MS to resume his job with Chevron Oil driving a truck and to raise his family in Pearl. Later they decided to move back to the Sulphur Springs Community. They built a home there, and Rodney continued to drive for Chevron Oil. Peggy was a stay-at-home mom raising children and chickens. Their youngest daughter, Wendy, was born in 1973 and their family of 5 was complete. They made many happy memories there. When their children were grown, they sold the house and farm and built a home closer to Sebastopol. Rodney retired from Chevron Oil and they later built the Sawmeal restaurant next to the new house.

Rodney and Peggy were blessed with an abundance of family including seven grandchildren, and fourteen great grandchildren. They called him Papa, Pop, and PaPoo.

Throughout the years he drove for Peco Foods, Nolan Sistrunk, and Easom Hardware.

In 2023, Rodney and Peggy sold their home of 32 years and built a new home closer to family.They moved in February of this year.

Rodney loved God, his wife Peggy, his family and friends and was known for having a servant's heart. He loved his country, vacations, fishing, his antique Ford truck with the air horn, his Sunday School Class, his coffee club buddies, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, and FOX News. He was well known for his contagious smile, his joyful attitude, his big warm hugs and his love for God and others.

Our family knows that if he could, Rodney would tell you to give your heart to Jesus. He would say that God is Good and God is faithful.

And he would say, "I have lived in the GOODNESS OF GOD."

Wife of 58 years: Peggy Andrews

3 Daughters: Sandra Smith and husband Ricky, Michelle Easom and husband Al, and Wendy Greene and husband Kevin

Grandchildren: Todd Smith and wife Heather, Lacey Ogletree and husband Daniel, Allyson Duggan and husband Michael, Andie Pillsbury and husband Zach, Cal Easom and wife Caroline, Josie Collins and husband Eric and Drew Warren and husband JoJo

Great Grandchildren: Emma, Marlee, John Marshall Smith, Piper and Luke Ogletree, Cooper, Hattie and Hardin Pillsbury, Millie, AG and Maggie Easom, AJ Davis Collins, Charlie Collins and Remi Warren

Siblings: Betty Jones, Ronnie Andrews and Linda Edwards and husband Mac

He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Andrews was preceded in death by his parents, Ellis and Mildred Andrews; sister, Billie Brown and husband Pettey; brother in law, Horval Jones and mother in law, Hattie Head.

Pallbearers: Todd Smith, Cal Easom, Zach Pillsbury, Eric Collins, JoJo Warren, Michael Duggan and Daniel Ogletree

Honorary Pallbearers: Senior Men Sunday School Class and "Old Fellas" Coffee Club