Benjamin Andrew "Andy" Burrell

Benjamin A. Burrell "Andy" was born in Washington, D.C. in 1948 and was reared in Alexandria, Virginia. Always active in sports, Andy played varsity football, basketball, and baseball during his high school years and enjoyed tennis and scuba diving into his early adulthood. Andy is a graduate of the University of Richmond, where he received a B. A. in Sociology in 1971. While attending the University of Richmond, he enrolled in the Army ROTC, and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1971. In 1972, he went on active duty with the US Army, attending the Infantry Officers Basic Training Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. In addition, he completed a Criminal Investigation Course at the Military Police School and was subsequently assigned to the Headquarters of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command in Washington D.C. While on this assignment, he completed the Drug Enforcement Administration course and enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, Virginia, where he received his Master's Degree in Criminology in 1974. After separating from active duty with the U.S. Army, he became an Army Reservist, as a member of the District of Columbia National Guard, functioning as the Criminal Investigation Supervisor of the 260th Military Police Group. Following this, Andy was a private investigator for a year before going on to own a successful collection agency for 45 years, retiring in June 2021. During this time, Andy served as the President of the Virginia Collectors Association three times, and remained actively involved in their executive board. He also served as a one-time Director representing the State of Virginia with the American Collectors Association.

During his career, Andy remained active, playing fast-pitch softball with the Guy Mason League in Washington, D.C. and was inducted into the Washington, D.C. Fast-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 2001.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, of over 48 years, and their daughter, Sarah, her husband, Frank, and two grandchildren, Halloran and Harrison.

The family will receive friends at the Cunningham Turch Funeral Home, 811 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM

A Celebration of Life will be held on THursday, August 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the Commonwealth Baptist Church, 700 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301