Obituary of VIVIAN ANDREWS

Vivian Hiers Andrews, 91, passed away on November 28, 2011. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 1, from 6 to 8 PM at Greenlawn Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral services will be Friday, December 2, at 3:30 PM at First Baptist Church of Charleston. Internment will be Saturday at 11 AM at Andrews Memorial Cemetery in Andrews, SC. From her early years, one question defined Vivian?s life: What does God want of me? Her answer is reflected in her life?s work and was captured by the words of the Old Testament prophet Micah: ?To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.? Vivian was born in Atlanta on July 25, 1920, daughter of the late Vivian von Santen and Jasper Theodore Hiers. She graduated with a B.A. degree in history from Wake Forest College and a masters degree in religious education from the Carver School of Missions and Social Work of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. After the births of three sons in four years and, shortly thereafter, the death of her husband, Stuart M. Andrews, in a 1955 automobile accident, Vivian found strength and stability in the life of her family and the life of the church. Establishing a home in Charleston in 1959, Vivian became a teacher of American history, French, and Biblical studies at First Baptist High School, where she later was named principal. In 1967, Vivian became Minister of Education at First Baptist Church. It was a post she later held at churches throughout the state, including Georgetown First Baptist Church, Kilbourne Park Baptist Church (Columbia), and North Charleston Baptist Church. In 1989, she returned to her church home ? First Baptist of Charleston as Minister of Education, where she completed her professional career. During this period, Vivian was an active leader in South Carolina church affairs ? creating mission programs for at-risk youth in Charleston, writing and editing Sunday School materials for the Southern Baptist Convention, and serving on boards of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the Women?s Missionary Union of SC, and North Greenville College. In recent years, she has been active in congregations affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Many were the joys of Vivian?s life: church friends and family, South Carolina beaches and North Carolina mountains, theology, her mother?s southern cooking, international travel, classical music, poetry, painting, and sewing. Through these joys, she radiated a tenderness and gratefulness for the love of God at work in the world. Since late 2000, Vivian has been blessed by the love and companionship of her dear friend and colleague the Reverend Brenda Kneece with whom she shared a home in Columbia. Vivian is survived by her three sons and their families: Walter of Columbia and grandchildren, Annie (husband, Travis Poole) and Jason (wife, Carmen); Mark of Mt. Pleasant and his wife, Fran ?Charlie? Segars, and grandchildren, Matt and Kelley; and Stuart of Blythewood and his wife, Arlene, and grandchildren, Emily and Brook. Vivian is also survived by her beloved older sister, Anne Hiers Orrock, of Cavendish, England. She is pre-deceased by her faithful brother Jack Hiers, whose wife Ervene is a resident of Charleston. The family wishes to thank the friends and health care professionals who cared for Vivian during the course of her extended illness, particularly Elizabeth Outing who provided daily support and encouragement for nearly nine years. Instead of flowers, memorials may be made to the South Carolina Christian Action Council at PO Drawer 3248 Columbia, SC 29230.