Mitchell Nebraska Drew

Mitchell Nebraska Drew, 81, died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, in Tuscaloosa.

Mitchell was born a fifth generation Floridian on Sept. 26, 1926, in Quincy, Fla. He was preceded in death by his father, Mitchell N. Drew; mother, Gladys Allene Mann Drew; brother, John Walter Drew; and grandson, Mitchell N. Drew III.

A memorial service will be held in Tuscaloosa at Christ Episcopal Church at 3 p.m. today with the Revs. David Meginniss and Dr. Margaret Scalise officiating. Heritage Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial provider, is directing. The family will receive guests at the Parish Hall following the memorial. A graveside burial service will be held in Quincy, Fla., at Hillcrest Cemetery on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Ralph McCaskill officiating. The family will receive guests at a reception at First Presbyterian in Quincy following the interment.

He is survived by his loving wife, Kathryn Short Drew, Tuscaloosa; four children, Mitchell N. Drew Jr. (wife Gaye), J. Everitt Drew (wife Julie), Letitia Drew Galloway (husband Ira) and Cecilia Drew Loeb (husband Peter), all of Tallahassee, Fla.; his dear sister, Allene Drew Marshall (husband Warren), Montgomery; brother-in-law, Roland Short (wife Bethy), Birmingham; cousin, Walter Mann, Palm Beach County. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Laura Ashley Hanlon (husband Andy and daughter Mabry), Taylor, Sarah, Stuart and Lawson Drew, Justin (wife Megan), Spencer, Ginger and Faithe Galloway, Alexander and Madeleine Loeb and Garrett Maier. He is also survived by five stepchildren, Lee Belle Standeffer Blythe (husband Bud), Wendy Standeffer Riggs, Dr. Bud Standeffer (wife Susan), Stacey Standeffer McGuire (husband Bill) and Luke Standeffer (wife Teia); and step-grandchildren, Paden, Kathryn , Taylor, Kaley, Hanna Blythe, Amanda and Anna-Kathryn Riggs, Carter, Harrison, Beck and McLean Standeffer, Stefan Swindoll, Margaret McGuire and Ashton, Wilson and Jack Standeffer.

Mitch's life was greatly enchanced by his marriage to Kathryn and by his four children. Not many men were blessed with such close relationships. After being reared in Gadsden County, Mitch graduated from Sewanee Military Academy and Duke University. He served in the U.S. Navy from December 1943 to June 1946 in the Philippines. Upon his return home, he followed his father's and mother's footsteps and entered the family owned Quincy Telephone Company, serving as vice president then president for 30 years. During those years, he was very active in the telephone industry, serving on numerous industry committees and boards including the Florida Board of Sprint Communications. He also served on several other business boards including the Lewis State Bank in Tallahassee, Municipal Code Corp in Tallahassee, Tucker State Bank in Jacksonville and the American National Life Insurance Company, which he helped form. He was very active in the local, state and national Republican Party and was appointed by Ronald Reagan as the Florida State Director of Farmers Home Administration after retiring from the telephone company. He was very active in the communities where he lived, serving in numerous capacities including president of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Scholarship Foundation in Tallahassee and the Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa and recently as a member of the Apollo Club, North River Discussion Club and Christ Episcopal Church in Tuscaloosa.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Avinash Nichani, Dr. Regina Harrell, Ms. Linda Cheatum, Mr. Jim Williamson and all the VA Home Health Care Team, the employees of The Lantern at Morning Pointe and Hospice of West Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 605 Lurleen Wallace Blvd., N, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401; or to Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404.