Thomas Anderson Mears II, “Andy,” passed away at home surrounded by his family on October 28, 2020. Andy was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Holcomb Mears; his father, Thomas Wakefield Mears, and his brother, John Holcomb Mears.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, Ruth Boyd Mears, and their three children Katherine Mears Beshear (Ross), Lillian Mears, and Andie Mears Wilson (Corey). He is also survived by three grandchildren Ruth and Hattie Beshear, and Shepard Wilson, who all brought him incredible joy. His three sisters, Ellen Mears Duncan (Townes), Martha Mears Wells (Chuck), and Katie Mears O’Mary (Mark) are also grieving the loss of their big brother.
Andy was born on March 16, 1951, in Birmingham, AL. After graduating from The Darlington School in Rome, GA, he attended the University of Alabama where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. While in Tuscaloosa, Andy met his lifelong friends Jim Burford and Bill Elrod, and together, they formed the band, Rabbit Branch, which continued to regale fans with precise covers of rock n’ roll favorites for more than 40 years.
An immensely talented musician, Andy was self-taught and proficient on many instruments. He especially loved the guitar and, over the years, collected what felt to Ruth like hundreds. Andy was truly a renaissance man, devoting himself to a variety of hobbies – the list of which, would be almost as long as this memory of him.
He was a life-long lover of learning, constantly engaging in new adventures. One of the greatest accomplishments of his life was entering law school at Birmingham School of Law at the age of 57, graduating as valedictorian of his class at the age of 60. Not only did he practice law after his graduation, he delighted in being a professor at the school.
Andy was passionate about life and all of his interests, but most of all, about his family. He will be missed greatly by all who were privileged to know him. There will be a private family service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Saint Luke’s Foundation, Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, 3736 Montrose Rd., Birmingham, AL, 35213.
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