Andrews Endowment Established at Northwest Mississippi Community College

The Jimmy Neal Andrews Endowment was established at Northwest Mississippi Community College by M. C. Herrington Distributor, Inc., Northcentral Electric Power Association, and a host of family, friends, and business associates to honor the memory of this beloved citizen of Olive Branch. Andrews died at the age of 75 in January of this year.

Jimmy Neal Andrews

Andrews was devoted to his alma mater, Olive Branch High School. He had the distinction of missing only one day of school in the entire 12 years of school attendance. He was a founding member and supporter of the Olive Branch Letterman Club and a proud supporter and fan of all sports played at Olive Branch High School.

He spent more than 40 years as general manager at M. C. Herrington Distributor, Inc. Carol Herrington Allen, the daughter of M. C. Herrington is one of the leaders in establishing this scholarship. “Jimmy Neal was a loyal employee and a dear friend of our family. The loss of this man to our company, our family, and this community creates a huge void that simply cannot be filled. He is, in every sense of the word, a true gentleman and an esteemed public servant, ” Allen said.

Andrews was a loyal servant to his community. For many years he was an essential asset to the Olive Branch Jaycees. He coached boys’ baseball and girls’ softball, worked fields, umpired, and did whatever was needed. He was on the Board of Directors for both the Olive Branch Jaycees and the Olive Branch Sports Association.

His class reunions were very special to him. Every year he would help organize and reach out to his former classmates. He would make sure anyone who had passed away that year was recognized and added their picture to the class memorial.

He served on the Board of Directors of Northcentral Electric Power Association and was an active member of Maples Memorial United Methodist Church.

Perhaps his greatest role in life was that of a devoted husband to his wife Barbara, and a dedicated father to his daughters, Lisa Selph, Julie Niblett and Beth Chumney, all of Olive Branch; Kellie Thompson of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Audrey Green of Weir, and his sons, Neal Andrews of Abbeville, Paul Andrews of Moscow, Tennessee and Ricky Wynn of Holly Springs. He dearly loved his 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Andrews was instrumental in leading fundraising efforts to endow scholarships at Northwest to honor several of Olive Branch’s prominent citizens. Sybil Canon, associate vice president of Development and Special Projects at Northwest remembers fondly her association with Andrews.

“Jimmy Neal was one of the kindest men I have ever known. Whenever he was working to raise money to honor his Olive Branch friends, he refused to take recognition for his efforts. It is difficult to find a person in today’s world with the kind of integrity and goodness that this man had. We are incredibly honored to have a scholarship that bears his beloved name,” Canon said.

The scholarship will be awarded to a DeSoto County high school graduate with preference given to a student with proven academic potential and who has maintained excellent attendance.

For more information about the Northwest Foundation, contact Canon at 662-560-1103 or e-mail srcanon@northwestms.edu.