ANDREW WASHINGTON III

Andrew Jerome Washington III was born

at Florida A&M University hospital to Gloria Ervin and Andrew Washington Jr. on November 27, 1970. His parents wed after graduating from FAMU. Although Gloria and Andrew Washington Jr. both truly believed the reason they met was to bring Drew into this world. He was the absolute best of both of them.

Drew attended St. Patrick's School, ABC School, Saint Anthony's and graduated from St. Mary's in Jersey City, New Jersey. Drew would often say "each school taught him a different lesson.” After graduating from high school he attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia. He moved back from Atlanta in 1994.

When Drew committed himself to something he honored that commitment. Whether it was his education or a job; he was laser focused. From his first job in high school until becoming one of the first people to work with the Jersey City Light Rail he did his absolute best. His mother often says he was the most committed to love so much so he loved every one and he's loved by all who knew him.

In 1996 Drew was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and his life and success was interrupted by manic episodes, hospitalizations, many different medications, getting healthy, and rebuilding life. He fought his way out of bipolar episodes and back to living a healthy life with medication, the love his family, the prayers of those who love him and his unwillingness to give up. He may have fallen but he knew how to get back up and begin again.

On August 27, 2023 Andrew Jerome Washington's potential to get well again was stolen from him. After calling for help for Andrew instead of deescalation or listening to his family's pleas the Jersey City Police Department entered his home and took his life. They didn't just take Drew's life they followed a trend of people of color living with mental illnesses being harmed instead helped when in a mental crisis.

Drew's family knows he has joined all of his loved ones in heaven and is preparing for his new assignment as Guardian Angel. He can r est in peace knowing his family has decided to fight for him. His family is now on mission to stop this from happening to another person or family.

Andrew is survived by his mother Gloria Washington, sister Courtnie Washington, grandmother Barbara Ervin, brother Steven Washington, brother Fred "Bo* Rhett Jr., aunts Doris "Toni" Ervin, Lisa Mendez, Denise Davis, godfather and uncle Victor Davis, step father Fred Rhett Sr, cousin/brother Eric Davis, cousins Tiffany Mendez, Nia Mendez, Jasper Massey, and a host of nieces, nephews aunts, uncles, cousins, family and friends. Andrew was preceded in death by his father Andrew J. Washington

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND ALL THAT YOU ARE, KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING INSIDE YOU THAT IS GREATER THAN ANY OBSTACLE

ORDER SERVICE OF

Saturday September 9, 2023 // 12noon

St. John’s Baptist Church

525 Bramhall Ave, Jersey City, New Jersey , Pastor

Processional

Welcoming Pastor

Reverend Dr. Frances Teabout

St. John's Baptist Church

Officiating Minister

Reverend Steffie Bartley

The New Hope Memorial Baptist Church

National Action Network

Song Selection

Bernadette Meggett

Scripture Reading

Rev. Ritney A. Castine

Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church

Prayer of Comfort

Pastor Diane L. Lewis

Trinity Lutheran Church

Song Selection

Rudy Snelling

Remarks

Please Limit To Two Minutes

Obituary

Song Selection

Bernadette Meggett

Eulogy

National Action Network

Recessional

To My Brother

I have a collection of memories, some captured by cameras and some that reside only in my mind, my heart, and my spirit. My m other captured a moment when I squeezed next to Drew and I placed my arms around him. I remember wanting to protect him as he had d one so many times for me. I wanted to take care of him the way he helped take care of me. The thing about my brother is that loving him is a gift from God. Our love flo ws with ease like a river into an ocean. And because our love is so solid, so absolute, so honest...I know the true meaning of love. I honor you Drew and thank God for choosing me to be your sister. I once complained about trivial issues while in college and you told me about the book of Job in your unique way. I asked “why would God allow someone to experience so much pain?” You said, “ You’re asking the wrong question. The real question is why didn’t Job’s Faith ever waver? Because he knew God would see him through all the pain and all the despair and there would come a day when God would ma ke all things new, and all things right. God would bless him over and over and over again because he trusted God’s promises. If he could make it through the worst of time s and still be a Believer so can you…your blessing is coming” Drew your heart was so kind. Growing up with you was a wild adventure and I wouldn't trade one minute of it; because if I didn't laugh I learned. You put that eight year gap between us to great use. You taught me the power of being unique. You taught me how incredibly am azing it is to own your light. In doubtful moments I can hear your voice shouting "Own Your Light". My favorite part of being your sister is that no matter where this journey takes us…we will always be connected by blood, by love, by circumstance, and by Divine Ord er. I was meant to love you and you were meant to love me. Mommie has carried us over more hills and mountains than we can count...and yet she still says "I love the hearts and souls o f my children" Mommie and I love you more than words Drew can ever exp ress. I trust it is a love that will transcend distance, time and space. You taught me how to fight; not with my hands but with my mind, my heart, and my soul. You said “that is where your power lives”. I know you are resting alongside Pop-Pop, Momma Grace, and the aunts, uncles, cousins and family we love and I know you deserve to rest well. We will be your voice. We will fight u ntil Heaven is rejoicing because Justice will be yours. I pray you’ll lend me your strength and wisdom as I learn to live in this world without your physical presence. Some people need light and some people are light. Light Up The Darkness. I love you forever and a day.

My Son Drew

I want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to express their condolences and support during this incredibly di fficult time. I hope to be able to thank you all personally in time. To my sisters Toni, Lisa and Denise…my nieces and nephews thank you for continuing to be a support system for Drew through the years. To The Dunbar-Williams tribes and GEMC family, friends and relatives thank you for lifting us up in prayer and standing with us as we are just beginning our fight for justice for Drew. My sisters and family who had to witness the worst day of my life; I am so deeply sorry for the trauma you endured. You have stood strong but I know you are grieving with us. Please know I borrow from your strength. I have to believ e because you were there; Drew wasn’t alone on his last day on earth. There are moments when we question what we could have or should have done differently but my family did exactly what I’ve done so many times before and that is seek medical support for Drew. Medical attention my son deserved and needed. I want you all to know the wonderful man I raised. Drew came into this world full of so much light and energy. He was brilliant and beautiful n ot just because he was my son but because he was God’s son. He was such a thoughtful person. He was passionate and so charming. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t accomplish when he set his mind to it. I found myself often amazed by how much he wanted to stand out in the crowd until I realized he wasn’t ma de to fit in. He was brave and strong but I didn’t raise him alone. Our tribe raised him and so the tears we are shedding are not just because of how he died but how he LIVED. What happened to my son was a complete miscarriage of justice. He was no danger to anyone. He was in his home AL ONE. After my son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1996 I can honestly say I had no idea how much it would change our lives but it NEVER changed his heart, his soul, his values, or his love. I want you to know the pictures you’ve seen of Drew over t he past few days are not before his diagnosis but after because he fought his way back to health for over two decades. His life didn’t end with that diagnosis. His life ended when we sought medical attention for him. Instead of treating Drew li ke a human being living with a mental illness the Jersey City police department including the S.W.A.T. team treated my son like a violen t criminal. Mental illness is no different than any other illness but so many people around this country treat it like it’s someth ing to be ashamed of or like it’s a crime. If my son had cancer he would be given medical care. If my son had an asthma attack he would have been taken to the hospital and given treatment but because mental illness is so misunderstood and so underfunded th e police were called and instead offering him aid and assistance they chose to kill him in his own home. Until mental illness is treated like a disease no different than any other disease that requires hospitalization we will keep seeing cases like ours. I will make sure my son’s life was not taken in vain. I want accountability. I want people to know when the Mayor of Jersey City described my son as vi olent, that was a LIE and to take him from us and then assassinate his character is unacceptable. Thank you for supporting our family during this difficult time. We want justice for Drew. We ask that you continue to pray for us as we will never get over this. The Jersey City Police Department didn’t just take his l ife, they have changed our world forever and the only way for my son to ever truly be at peace is through accountability and change. I send you all my love and my appreciation.

Today’s Lesson

Gather around everyone for today’s lesson… Let’s call this a mental health session.

How do you kill a man in his own home? While he’s fighting an invisible disease… Forced into paranoia while he’s all alone… Where the proper training and medical attention…was

Instead of treatment my cousin was given a death sentence. Fatality is the outcome; and it’s clear the protocol is flawed and there were several Steps skipped… The pain we live with now is he will forever be missed. This indifference to mental illness is not okay? And when the topic of Black men and mental health is presented they want to shy away… How was this justifiable? Who is to be held liable? Another black family in America left with broken hearts… It’s tearing us apart. With no justice there is no peace… Excessive force and unnecessary violence by the police must cease. We’re always expected to move on…How does one do that… When this Black family is my own. Losing one of our black men to police violence in the same city that for the past 100+ years we called home. To conclude today's lesson I’ll leave you with this… Drew Washington, I’m so sorry this city failed you. I’m so sorry those called in to help were so careless. Just know we will fight for you u ntil there is peace, until there is change, until there is Justice!

Written By Drew’s Cousin • Simone Hayes

We thank everyone for their many acts of kindness during our time of bereavement. We are grateful for your love and concern in our time of great loss and sorrow.

The Family of Andrew J. Washington III