Dr. Andrew Mayfield McDearmid, beloved father, grandfather, husband and missionary, 95, went home to be with his Lord December 2, 2017. He leaves behind his 2nd wife, Maria Rosario McDearmid; daughters, Carol Ann Houghton and Andrea Esther Lunsford; his grandchildren, Robert Ashley Lunsford, Catherine Leola Garrett and Dilkusha Nicole Barnard; five great-grandchildren, John, Jacqueline, Duncan and Jennifer Garrett, and Sophia Petra Barnard. He was predeceased by his beloved son, Richard Caldwell McDearmid; his wife of 60 years, Bernice Garns McDearmid ; and brother, Archie McDearmid.

Andrew was born July 27, 1922 in Norfolk to the late Archibald McDearmid and Ethel May Pierce McDearmid. As a boy growing up in the outskirts of the city of Norfolk, he hunted and fished in the streams and forest along Indian River Road. As an adult he hiked the Himalayas and shot several man-eating tigers. Anyone who knew Andrew will remember him for his generosity of spirit, his love of God and his joyful embrace of life. He loved poetry and music; he always knew the right time and place to regale us with one of the thousands of stories and jokes which he always savored to tell. His sparkling blue eyes and prodigious memory did not fade until his very last days. We are all grateful that God granted him a long and fulfilling life.

Andrew had a Christ directed life, he also achieved academic success including a Doctorate of Education at Temple University, served as Vice-President of Valley Forge Christian College in Pennsylvania, as well as Dean of Missions at Waxahachie Christian College in Texas. Andrew served on the mission field for 25 years in India as an Assembly of God minister in Lucknow, Ultrar Pradesh and Bangalore, South India; also as President of the Southern Asia Bible College an institute for training Indian ministers.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Graham Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1112 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake. A service to celebrate his life will be held Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 11 am at the funeral home with a reception to follow. He will be laid to rest in a private service with his family at Riverside Memorial Park, Norfolk. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to view the service and to leave a condolence to the family.