Rev. Bernard E. Andrews

Rev. Bernard E. Andrews

Rev. Bernard E. Andrews, passed away at age 87, on November 27, 2006 in Central Point after an extended period of illness. He was the long time widower of Virginia Mae (Dodge) Andrews of West Hollywood, Calif., to whom he had been married for forty years.

Rev. Andrews was born July 16, 1919 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, the middle of seven children and the son of English emigrants. His mother, Janet (Grimbly) Andrews, was a native of Oxford, England and his father, Gordon Andrews, was raised in Basingstoke, England. The Andrews' ancestral home was located in Hertford, just north of London.

In 1920 his family moved from Alberta, Canada to Hollywood, Calif. Rev. Andrews graduated from Hollywood High School in 1937 and briefly attended UCLA with an interest in veterinary medicine. After his conversion to the Christian faith, he began studies and preparation for the ministry. He was a member of the first graduating class (1946) of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., and took his pastoral training at Los Angeles Baptist Seminary and at Eastern Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa.

During a ministry spanning nearly forty years, Rev. Andrews served four separate churches in southern California and was the founding pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Phoenix, Ariz. In the late summer of 1961, at forty-two years of age, he moved his family to Medford and assumed the office of Senior Pastor at the First Baptist Church, a position he held until December of 1967. First Baptist was at that time a downtown church on a small property at the corner of North Central and Fifth St., directly abutting the J.C. Penney Department Store and cater-corner to the old Medford City Hall. Under Pastor Andrews' leadership, the church relocated to its present site on Crater Lake Avenue, one of the first developments on what was known as the Phipps' property. The congregation was forced to hold services at the Wilson Elementary School for over a year to accommodate the building and relocation process. By the end of Rev. Andrews' tenure the church had grown to some 500 worshipers on Sunday morning.

During his working years he was active in church and missionary efforts, often serving on national boards or regional associations for the Conservative Baptist Association of America. He was instrumental in helping to launch a Bible college in Phoenix, Ariz. in the late 1950's. He also authored several articles for popular Christian magazines. In the course of his last pastorate he led several tour groups to the Holy Land.

After retiring in southern California, Rev. Andrews returned to the Rogue Valley in 1988 and lived in Jacksonville for 15 years. In the spring of 2003, he moved to Horton Plaza in Medford.

He was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Medford but often preached and conducted services in small rural churches in southwestern Oregon.

Rev. Andrews leaves four sons and their families: James of Mill City, Ore., Paul of North Attleboro, Mass., Steven of Wilferdingen, Germany, and Jonathan of Abrantes, Portugal. He also leaves eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His four remaining siblings live in California. He was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Conger-Morris Funeral Home at 715 West Main St. in Medford. Viewing hours are scheduled at that site for Friday, December 1, 2006 from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.

A public memorial service commemorating the life of Rev. Andrews will be held at the First Baptist Church, Crater Lake Ave., at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2006. Rev. Ron McKay, pastor of Ruch Community Church will be officiating.

Burial services will be private, for family members only, at the historic Jacksonville Cemetery.

Direct family contact can be made by email to Paul Andrews at: andrewspsandrews@aol.com or by phone at (508) 695-0683.