Frank Andrews appreciated every invitation to speak to audiences about poetry, his books, and his life as a 'native son' of Franklin, Tennessee. He died January 16, 2022, after a brief hospitalization, and was buried with military honors at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Franklin. Read his obituary in The Williamson Herald (opens in a new window). See also the Postscript, at the bottom of this page.
Most Recent: Thompson Station Church
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Frank speaks at Thompson Station Church in January 2020.
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NEWCOMERS CLUB VISIT
Frank spoke to the delightful ladies of the Williamson County
Newcomers Club during their regular luncheon meeting at the Old
Natchez Country Club. Frank spoke at the invitation of First Vice
President Marcie Karlin, who sought him as a speaker after a member mentioned Jay Sheridan's profile of Frank in Southern Exposure Magazine.
After an introduction by his son and editor Brent, Frank opened with
his somber but hopeful 'Traveling Light', then prompted a sing-along
to his Western trail song (and family favorite) 'Wagon Wheel'. He sang
his bittersweet 'Life Is A Shadow' a capella. Frank read his
poems 'Letter from a Soldier,' 'Lazy Summer', 'Downtown Franklin',
'Lori's Book Store', and 'Ode To a Son of a B-'.
FRANK ALSO talked about old times and new roads and the changes that have taken place in the county since he was born in Franklin 80 years ago. He recalled the days when Sneed Road, now a modern county highway, was a gravel road. Called Union Bridge Road at the time, it led to a covered bridge that was the last such structure in the county when it was washed away by flooding in the 1940's. Frank rode the bus home from school on that gravel road many years ago. As for the newcomers - he welcomed them as he has always done, with open arms, proud to see the new faces bringing new business to the county. The Newcomers Club ladies responded enthusiastically, buying Frank out of the box of books he brought, and ordering several more by mail - for which he is grateful. Organized by Louise (Mrs. John M.) Green in 1968, the Williamson County Newcomers Club's mission is to welcome, befriend, and inform women who are new to Williamson County. Members include ladies who arrived in just the past week, and those with many years of local experience to share. At this meeting, Brent Andrews provided a candy-cane award to the newcomer from the most distant place (Rome, Italy, about 5,000 miles), with honorable mention going to the newcomer from Paraguay (about 4,500 miles). Other contenders included ladies from California and New York.##
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FRANK ALSO talked about old times and new roads and the changes that have taken place in the county since he was born in Franklin 80 years ago. He recalled the days when Sneed Road, now a modern county highway, was a gravel road. Called Union Bridge Road at the time, it led to a covered bridge that was the last such structure in the county when it was washed away by flooding in the 1940's. Frank rode the bus home from school on that gravel road many years ago. As for the newcomers - he welcomed them as he has always done, with open arms, proud to see the new faces bringing new business to the county. The Newcomers Club ladies responded enthusiastically, buying Frank out of the box of books he brought, and ordering several more by mail - for which he is grateful. Organized by Louise (Mrs. John M.) Green in 1968, the Williamson County Newcomers Club's mission is to welcome, befriend, and inform women who are new to Williamson County. Members include ladies who arrived in just the past week, and those with many years of local experience to share. At this meeting, Brent Andrews provided a candy-cane award to the newcomer from the most distant place (Rome, Italy, about 5,000 miles), with honorable mention going to the newcomer from Paraguay (about 4,500 miles). Other contenders included ladies from California and New York.##
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BOOK RELEASE AT FIRTBANK IN HISTORIC POST OFFICE BLDG.
The historic Five Points Post Office in downtown Franklin, beautifully renovated by FirstBank, was a fitting place to introduce Frank's second book, From Humble Beginnings: Tales of a Native Son, at a reception hosted by the bank January 19, 2018. Frank signed books and read stories and poetry and was delighted to have his granddaughter Hannah Andrews, illustrator of the book, sharing the spotlight. The Williamson Herald noted the event with an excellent review and photos by Carole Robinson. Click here to read the Herald's story.##
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REMEMBERING FRANKLIN'S UNKNOWN SOLDIER
William Frank Andrews will read his poem "Letter from a Soldier: At Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864" during the remembrance of the Unknown Soldier who will be buried after military honors Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 in Franklin's Rest Haven Cemetery. According to the Williamson Herald the soldier's body was found May 14 on a Columbia Avenue construction site and while it was first thought he was a Union soldier due to buttons found with his body, his actual allegiance and home state are unknown. Also unknown is when the soldier died - whether it was in the Battle of Franklin or sometime thereafter as Confederates retreated from the area following the Battle of Nashville. But locals want to remember the soldier as an "American," the Herald said, citing Franklin City Administrator Eric Stuckey who told the newspaper: "This isn’t a Union or Confederate soldier, it is an American soldier just like Franklin is a beautiful American town.” Re-enactors in both northern and southern regalia will participate in the soldier's send-off, as well as a few 'True Sons' of Civil War veterans - elderly gentlemen whose fathers fought in the war including one who fought at Franklin for the Union side. The ceremony at St. Paul's will feature a eulogy from a Confederate chaplain and a benediction by a Union chaplain entitled, "A Balm for the Wounded and Dying." Also featured will be music by the 8th Georgia Regimental Band. Later will be a graveside 21-gun salute. The general public will not be able to get into St. Paul's Saturday morning, but will be able to follow the horse-drawn caisson carrying the soldier's body from St. Paul's down Main Street, around the Public Square, and north to Rest Haven where a pillar has been erected over the former fighting man's grave. "Letter from a Soldier" was published in Andrews' 2005 book, "From Humble Beginnings: Songs of a Native Son" and can be read here and purchased here. Read the Williamson Herald's coverage of the Unknown Soldier's burial beginning here.##
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ALLIED ARTS CLUB VISIT
Frank joined esteemed Williamson County poets S.R. Lee and Susie Sims Irvin in a Nov. 17 reading at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for the ladies of the Allied Arts Club. Frank read several poems including "Letter from a Soldier" about the Nov. 30, 1864 Battle of Franklin, which resulted in some 10,000 casualties including 6,000 killed. St. Paul's Episcopal Church and many other downtown Franklin buildings served as hospitals for Union and Confederate troops after the battle some have called the bloodiest of the Civil War. See the YouTube video of Frank discussing the Battle of Franklin and reading "Letter from a Soldier" here.
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FRANK AT 'AUTHOR AFTERNOONS'
As part of the Williamson County Public Library's regular "Author Afternoons" series for Fall 2008, Frank spoke about his favorite poets and people of his hometown of Franklin on Saturday, Oct. 4. At the invitation of library Director Janice Keck, Frank discussed his introduction to poetry as a young man and read a number of poems by Jesse Stuart, Robert W. Service, and James Whitcomb Riley before introducing his book From Humble Beginnings: Songs of a Native Son. Frank shared his first poem, "Stepping Stones," and others including the Tennessee Homecoming Award-winning "Politikin'," "The Love Nest" and "Ode to a Son of a B----" and capped off the event with an a capella rendition of his original song, "Wagon Wheel." Thanks to Janice Keck for inviting Frank to speak to folks at his hometown library!
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BUENA VISTA ELEMENTARY POETRY TALK
Frank spoke to fourth graders in Mrs. Woolridge's class at Buena Vista Elementary School in Nashville Feb. 8, 2008. During a special Black History Month reading Frank shared the work of his favorite poets including Jesse Stuart and also shared works by famous African-American poets including Langston Hughes. After an intruduction and reading by his son Thomas Brent Andrews, Frank read poems about his grandchildren and others from his 2005 book From Humble Beginnings: Songs of a Native Son. It was "Hybernation Day" for the Buena Vista Bears and students enjoyed Frank's reading dressed in their pajamas. Students especially enjoyed Frank's original songs, two of which he shared during his visit. A special "thank you" to Mrs. Woolridge for the invitation to speak to a very curious and responsive group of young people - some of them budding poets already.
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GREEN HILLS ROTARY VISIT
Frank spoke to members of Nashville's Green Hills 
Rotary on Friday, June 22, 2007. After an introduction by fellow Realtor and family friend Tommy Anderson of Prudential Woodmont Realty, Frank urged Rotarians to get to know the work of Kentucky native and one-time Vanderbilt University graduate student Jesse Stuart, whose poems have influenced Andrews' own work. "If you don't know Jesse Stuart, haven't read some of his work, I recommend him very highly," he said of the late poet, adding, "He wrote 61 books and I have all of them but one." Frank read from Stuart's Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow and Robert W. Service's Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, in addition to sharing his own "Stranger,"
"A Cry For Peace," "Ode To An S.O.B.," and "The Love Nest." Andrews also read his Tennessee Homecoming Award-winning "Politikin'" prompting laughs from an audience which included Nashville attorney and mayoral candidate Karl Dean. The receptive crowd also heard Frank sing an original song and discuss the sources of his inspiration. Chronic Discontent Books thanks the Green Hills Rotary Club and especially Tommy Anderson for the invitation to share Frank's work with a wonderful group of community-oriented citizens.
Rotary on Friday, June 22, 2007. After an introduction by fellow Realtor and family friend Tommy Anderson of Prudential Woodmont Realty, Frank urged Rotarians to get to know the work of Kentucky native and one-time Vanderbilt University graduate student Jesse Stuart, whose poems have influenced Andrews' own work. "If you don't know Jesse Stuart, haven't read some of his work, I recommend him very highly," he said of the late poet, adding, "He wrote 61 books and I have all of them but one." Frank read from Stuart's Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow and Robert W. Service's Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, in addition to sharing his own "Stranger,"
"A Cry For Peace," "Ode To An S.O.B.," and "The Love Nest." Andrews also read his Tennessee Homecoming Award-winning "Politikin'" prompting laughs from an audience which included Nashville attorney and mayoral candidate Karl Dean. The receptive crowd also heard Frank sing an original song and discuss the sources of his inspiration. Chronic Discontent Books thanks the Green Hills Rotary Club and especially Tommy Anderson for the invitation to share Frank's work with a wonderful group of community-oriented citizens.
Photos: Top, Frank Andrews speaks
as a guest of the Green Hills Rotary Club in
Nashville June 22. Below, Frank shares a
moment with Rotarian Pat Boatfield
of the Nashville Humane Association.
as a guest of the Green Hills Rotary Club in
Nashville June 22. Below, Frank shares a
moment with Rotarian Pat Boatfield
of the Nashville Humane Association.
FRANK VISITS OPTIMIST CLUB OF NASHVILLE/DOWNTOWN
Frank shared his work and poetry from his favorite authors with The Optimist Club of Nashville/Downtown on June 14, 2007 at the invitation of sitting President Ora Eads. Speaking to members of the 67-year-old service organization at a regular luncheon at Ponderosa Steakhouse off Trinity Lane in Nashville, Frank recalled his own tenure as a Franklin Optimist before reading from Jesse Stuart's Man With A Bull-Tongue Plow. Frank shared his poems "Politikin'," "A Father's Cry For Peace," "Ode To An S.O.B.," The Stranger," and "The Love Nest" to the delight of the assembled Optimists. Frank closed with his poem "Lines from God" as well as a poem from another of his favorite authors, Robert W. Service: "Bessie's Boil" from The Collected Poems of Robert Service. Chronic Discontent Books thanks President Eads and the Downtown Optimists for their hospitality and a truly memorable visit.
Post script: There were so many fun times being Frank's youngest son. I got to tag along as he sold real estate and Toyotas when I was young; and later, learned the family business at his side and edited and published his books. We spent our days driving all over Middle Tennessee looking at real estate: beautiful mansions, big farms, tiny homes, we saw them all. A lifelong poet, his dream was for me to publish his work after he died: bring it out of the thick three-ring binder he kept, that I was always dipping into to read, and make it a real book, to put in the library, and sell. We talked about that a lot as I was growing up and then when we were working together. One day in about 2004 I said "Dad, let's not wait until you die, to do this. Why do we have to wait until you die? The technology is there. The old 'vanity press' days where you have to pay five grand to publish your book, and you get a thousand books you may never sell, a depressing load of books nobody wants, that can become a burden - those things we've talked about before - those days are over. Internet businesses make it possible to publish one copy of your book. Or small batches. You wait for demand, then print the books!" And he said, "It couldn't hurt." And I have been publishing books ever since: six to date.
Frank shared his work and poetry from his favorite authors with The Optimist Club of Nashville/Downtown on June 14, 2007 at the invitation of sitting President Ora Eads. Speaking to members of the 67-year-old service organization at a regular luncheon at Ponderosa Steakhouse off Trinity Lane in Nashville, Frank recalled his own tenure as a Franklin Optimist before reading from Jesse Stuart's Man With A Bull-Tongue Plow. Frank shared his poems "Politikin'," "A Father's Cry For Peace," "Ode To An S.O.B.," The Stranger," and "The Love Nest" to the delight of the assembled Optimists. Frank closed with his poem "Lines from God" as well as a poem from another of his favorite authors, Robert W. Service: "Bessie's Boil" from The Collected Poems of Robert Service. Chronic Discontent Books thanks President Eads and the Downtown Optimists for their hospitality and a truly memorable visit.
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FRANKLIN LIONS LUNCHEON TALK
Frank spoke to the Franklin Lions Club Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006 at the invitation of club President Joey Davis. Speaking during the club’s regular business luncheon, Frank read “Politikin’,” “A Cry for Peace,” “Ode to an S.O.B.,” “The Love Nest,” and his very first poem “Stepping Stones” for the assembled Lions. Franklin’s oldest civic club, the Franklin Lions Club was founded in 1945 and is affiliated with the International Association of Lions Clubs. The Franklin Lions’ fund-raising activities include Franklin on the Fourth and the Lions Pride Breakfast. Lions provide eye-care services in the community in an effort to prevent blindness. A special thanks to Joey Davis for the invitation to speak to this esteemed group of community leaders.
Top, Frank Andrews introduces his book, From Humble Beginnings: Songs of a Native Son to members of the Franklin Lions Club Tuesday, Feb. 14. Above, Frank holds his book open to a picture of his grandmother, the late Mona Sullivan, who raised him along with his sister on a Williamson County farm.
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WAKM RADIO WITH GARY BUCHANAN & TOM LAWRENCE
Frank appeared on WAKM 950 AM in Franklin, Tennessee Feb. 6, 2006 on the Radio Close to Home show with host Gary Buchanan. Prompted by Buchanan and WAKM’s Tom Lawrence, Frank read his award-winning poem “Politikin’” and his son and publisher Brent Andrews read one of his favorites: “Lazy Summer.” Two callers to the show received books courtesy of Frank Andrews and WAKM. Thanks to Joey Davis, Williamson County Trustee, for calling-in and sharing stories about old times with Frank and to Gary Buchanan and Tom Lawrence for their time and professionalism!
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FRANK VISITS FREEDOM SIXTH-GRADERS
Frank spoke to Freedom Intermediate School sixth-graders Dec. 13 at the invitation of teacher Paula Bobilin. Frank’s goal was to share his love of poetry with the students - some of them writers themselves - and encourage them to explore it on their own. Frank discussed the different styles of poetry and shared the work of his favorite poets including Jesse Stuart and James Whitcomb Riley in addition to reading from his own book. Thanks to the Freedom sixth-graders for making Frank feel welcome and to Ms. Bobilin for being such a gracious host. Thanks also to Freedom teacher Ann Wallace for facilitating this event!
Top and above, William Frank Andrews shares the work of some of his favorite poets with Freedom Intermediate School sixth-graders Dec. 13, 2005. Below left, Frank discusses poetry with the students. Below right, Frank is pictured with FIS teacher Paula Bobilin.
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FRANK ON 1510 WLAC WITH HAL WILSON & CHRISTIE WILSON
Frank appeared on NewsRadio 1510 WLAC (Nashville) on Nov. 13. Frank, a Tennessee certified residential real estate appraiser, vice-president of Andrews Appraisal Service, Inc. and managing broker of Church Street Realty in Franklin, discussed real estate appraising and read his poetry as a guest of The Wilson Group Real Estate Show with Hal Wilson and Christie Wilson. Frank shared poems including “A Cry For Peace,” “Ode to an S.O.B.” and ”The Appraiser” with Hal and Christie’s many listeners across Middle Tennessee. Six lucky callers to the show received autographed copies of Frank’s book courtesy of Chronic Discontent Books and NewsRadio 1510 WLAC.
Above, Frank Andrews (right) paused for a picture before appearing on The Wilson Group Real Estate Show Nov. 13 with Hal Wilson, left, and Christie Wilson. Below, Frank did some last minute prep work before reading his poems for Hal and Christie’s listeners across Middle Tennessee.
Post script: There were so many fun times being Frank's youngest son. I got to tag along as he sold real estate and Toyotas when I was young; and later, learned the family business at his side and edited and published his books. We spent our days driving all over Middle Tennessee looking at real estate: beautiful mansions, big farms, tiny homes, we saw them all. A lifelong poet, his dream was for me to publish his work after he died: bring it out of the thick three-ring binder he kept, that I was always dipping into to read, and make it a real book, to put in the library, and sell. We talked about that a lot as I was growing up and then when we were working together. One day in about 2004 I said "Dad, let's not wait until you die, to do this. Why do we have to wait until you die? The technology is there. The old 'vanity press' days where you have to pay five grand to publish your book, and you get a thousand books you may never sell, a depressing load of books nobody wants, that can become a burden - those things we've talked about before - those days are over. Internet businesses make it possible to publish one copy of your book. Or small batches. You wait for demand, then print the books!" And he said, "It couldn't hurt." And I have been publishing books ever since: six to date.
Days we'd drive the counties together and talk things over, and I'd work on editing and writing at night - mostly. We'd discuss and dream and plan, looking over drafts and covers and talking about the future. Our dreams came true together. To speak to audiences about your book, and have the readers among them - or those whose curiosity you've managed to pique - buy it, is a great thrill to an author. It was an equal pleasure to speak to schoolchildren, and leave a copy of Dad's book in their school libraries. Dad truly loved poetry: James Whitcomb Riley, Langston Hughes, Jesse Stuart, Robert W. Service. They provided him a release and escape from his sometimes difficult life: humor, and a reminder that others have felt these feelings before. In his time, he did the same, with two books of his own.
It was fun to tag along with him on those journeys into classrooms, into the radio studio, to the stages before esteemed audiences. We spent 15 years doing such things, and it never got old: with such a wealth of poetry handed down to him by history, and his own humble contributions to that beloved genre, plus his short stories - often funny, sometimes sad - Dad never lacked new material.
