Robert Frankllin Andrews

1953 - 2012

Robert Franklin Andrews, 58, of Powhatan, Ark., passed away, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at a Lawrence, Ark., hospital. Service: 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Jonesboro, Ark., with Father Jesse Perkins officiating. Interment: Oak Forest Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bryan Funeral Home, Hoxie, Ark. Pallbearers: Kent Owen, Matt Cole, Ron Bible, Paul Bourland, Timothy Andrews and Pat Andrews. Born Dec. 24, 1953, at Blytheville, Ark., son of Charles and Ada Joe Hatcher Andrews, Robert was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Jonesboro. Robert earned a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University followed by a law degree from the University of Memphis. He practiced law in Lawrence and the surrounding counties in Arkansas before moving to Fort Worth, with his wife, Jane Silvey Andrews. Robert received a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Robert's law practice focused on civil right law and psychiatric health care. He represented over 100 adolescents who had been fraudulently committed to psychiatric facilities winning a multi-million dollar settlement for his clients. He did this at a great personal loss for himself. Robert was invited to testify before Congress in 1997 regarding mental health care fraud. Robert moved to Austin in 2001 where he and Barry Mitchell became life partners. Robert was proud of his service as a volunteer chaplain during the Katrina Relief effort in Austin. Robert and Barry retired to Powhatan, Ark., in 2010. He was preceded by his father, Charles Andrews. Survivors: His partner, Barry Mitchell; his mother, Ada Joe and husband, Charles Conway Weir, of Powhatan; sisters, Cindy Owen of Powhatan and Regina Bourland of Little Rock, Ark.; brother, Charles Andrews of Powhatan; sons, James Byron Andrews of Tahlequah, Okla., Zane David Andrew of Austin and Banning Lyons Andrews of California; his children's mother, Jane Silvey Andrews of Fort Worth; four nephews; and three nieces.