Andrea Murphey Meeks

Andrea Murphey Meeks quietly passed away at home on Thursday, April 19, 2018 She was 84. Andrea was born in Valparaiso, Indiana to Donald W. and Theodora (nee Blocker) Murphey on July 30, 1933 and was raised in Chicago, Illinois. Andrea graduated from Principia College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After taking a trip to Europe with two of her close friends, she moved to Washington, DC where she took a position as secretary to the director of the Republican National Committee. It was in Washington that she met the one love of her life at a church social. Andrea married Alfred Crowder Meeks on June 16, 1962 and the couple moved to Roanoke, VA where Al was a student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech). They had their first child, Brian, in 1963 while Al was still a student. After graduation, they moved to Northern Virginia and Paul was born in 1965. In the early 1970s, the young family traveled to and lived in Liberia as part of Al’s job with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). After returning to the United States, Melanie was born in 1973 and the family settled in McLean, VA not long after. Andrea was a gifted vocalist and pianist. In addition to playing for her church, First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Arlington, VA she also sang with the Fairfax Choral Society for many years. Andrea was also a committed volunteer at her church, serving on the Board and staffing the Christian Science Reading Room in both Arlington and McLean, VA. She was a lifelong subscriber to the Fairfax Symphony, an avid bridge player who continued to play up to just weeks before her passing, and a generous benefactor to several charities supporting the health and welfare of animals. In the mid-1980s, Andrea took a position with Legg Mason, seeing them through two mergers, finally retiring from Morgan Stanley after 30 years of service. Andrea was a much beloved friend, wife, mother, grandmother, and daughter of Christ, Scientist. She was preceded in death by her son, Brian (1963-1993) and her husband, Al (1929-1998). She is survived by her son, Paul Meeks of Falls Church, VA; her daughter, Melanie O’Brien (Andrew) of Bristow, VA; her grandchildren, Andrew and Aidan Meeks of Philadelphia, Madeleine and Andrew O’Brien of Bristow, VA; and, her daughter-in-law, Korinne Jackman of Philadelphia. Internment will be held at Cool Spring Natural Cemetery at Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, VA at Noon on Saturday, June 16, 2018. Directions can be found by visiting http://www.virginiatrappists.org/cemetery/ Parking is near the pavilion and a golf cart will be available for those who require assistance getting to the internment site. Please be prepared to arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to the service to allow time to get to the site. In keeping with Andrea’s generous heart and love of the musical arts and animals (especially pigs), the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her honor to a musical arts or animal welfare charity of the donor’s choosing. Please do not send flowers to the cemetery as they cannot be accommodated.