My late husband (Sydney H. Andrews) and I were married in this church on June 9, 1957 in a double-wedding ceremony with my sister, Dolly Tucker Briggs, and the late Philip W. Briggs (brother of Robert Briggs). In our almost 59 years of marriage, we lived in Colorado, North Carolina, Oregon and Arizona. While we were living in Arizona, Sydney said to me, “Wilma, if I were no longer here, where would you want to live?”
I thought about it and said, “If I were alone, I would rather be in Independence where my brother, the late Carl H. Tucker, Jr., and his wife Connie and his children and grandchildren live.” Consequently, time has passed, and I am now alone, living at the Hotel Booth with my little dog, Jill. I have one daughter, Delaney Andrews, and two grandsons, Andrew and Brandon, who live in the Los Angeles area of California.
Before retiring, I was a teacher in all elementary grades, junior high and high school levels, as well as a teacher in special education (learning disabilities specialist) and supervised teacher interns at the University of California, Davis Campus.
Throughout our marriage, we worshiped and served as Deacons, Elders and Sunday School teachers at Baptist, Presbyterian, English Lutheran and Christian Church Disciples of Christ churches.
To stay busy, I am active in Eastern Star, where I work to support crippled children and their families, and Christian Women’s Fellowship; I am the Patriotic Instructor for the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Chairperson for the School Room and Laundry Room at our local Independence Historical Museum and Art Center.
I love this church and everyone who worships here. I am happy to serve in our church.
God Bless you, each and every one.
~ Wilma Andrews