Obituary of Drexel Suor Andrews

Drexel Suor Andrews, whose positive outlook helped her achieve success as business leader, always considered being a mother and a grandmother as her most rewarding roles, died at Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday, November 29 at the age of 76.       

 Ms. Andrews was born in Buffalo, New York, on February 21, 1943 to Edward Suor and Muriel Chute Suor. She attended St. Mary’s Seminary (high school) in Buffalo, and Elmira College, Elmira NY, where she majored in social sciences and education and, upon graduating, taught elementary school for several years. 

She married David S. Andrews in 1966. (The couple divorced in 1979.)  Their first child, Michael D. Andrews, was born in 1968 followed by their daughter, E. Katherine Andrews, in 1975. Michael died in 1999 at age 31 in Cleveland OH after a stroke and decade long health battle, during which time Ms. Andrews was his relentless advocate.

Ms. Andrews’ passion for education continued after the birth of her children when she earned an MBA in finance and marketing from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1978.  She held executive positions at the former Gold Dome Bank in Buffalo for nine years until recruited by Ameritrust Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio. She later held executive positions with Cole Vision.  Ms. Andrews returned to Buffalo to care for her ailing parents as an executive with NYNEX. 

In 1998, she successfully fought off a rare form of breast cancer and later served as coordinator of a breast cancer prevention trial at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  Eleven years later, she survived another battle with endometrial cancer. Last September, upon the return of that cancer, she commenced treatment, but subsequently succumbed to an infection.

Ms. Andrews moved to Charlotte, NC in 2012 to be near her daughter’s family upon the birth of her first grandchild. She was an active member of the community through Senior Scholars, and her beloved bridge and book clubs.  She is survived by her daughter: Katherine (Patrick) Land; grandchildren Alden Land and Angus Land; sister Tracy (Tom) Garland; brother Edward (Suzanne) Suor; numerous nieces, nephews and devoted friends.

Memorial service and visitation will be held at Hankins Whittington Funeral Home, 1111 East Blvd Charlotte NC 28203, on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm with a separate service and internment in Buffalo in June 2020. The family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.