Good Afternoon and thank you all for being here today to Celebrate Andre Scott Sanders Sr, his life. I’m Fritzetta Lawton his older sister. Andre Scott Sanders Sr. was born Andre Scott Ginez on March 16, 1965 at Dominguez Hospital in Compton, California to Andres Scott Ginez and Regina Ginez. They divorced in 1966 and Regina remarried in 1969 to Stephen Creighton Sanders who adopted Regina’s 3 children and he carried the name Andre Scott Sanders Sr. Andre had a very kind, giving, loving, friendly, devoted and spirited soul. Andre loved people and always wanted to be your friend as a young boy. He was remarkable in so many ways. He lived his life to the fullest and touched so many people during his time here with us, as evident by so many of you here today. He was at his happiest when he was surrounded by his family-even during those inevitable tough times that life has a way of throwing at you. Andre’s devotion to his family was the foundation of his actions-the anchor that defined and shaped his life. Andre began is early education attending Dickison Elementary School in Compton, and attended Annalee Elementary in Carson, California. In Andre’s later education for seventh and eighth grade he attended private school in Long Beach (where he socked the Principal, because he was going to swat him) Andre attended Curtis Junior High for 9th grade and for high school he attended Phineas Banning in Carson. Andre attended classes that he was interested in and history was one. He never took notes or carried a book. He sat in class, listen and “Aced” the test. Andre would leave, ditch school, walk off the campus, catch the bus from Carson back home to Compton before 12 noon. This was “Dre’s schedule.” He would go home, and hope Pops wasn’t there, and if so, (there were choice words he used) Andre would figure out where he could go and hangout, so he wouldn’t get caught while on his daily ditching routine. He was known throughout the neighborhood as “DRE”. His circle of friends on the block of 16710 Muriel was Donald Brown aka “Milk”, Eric Wright aka “Eazy-E”, Sheen, Kim, Keith & Dwayne Byous, Kevin Aulet, Johnny Hopensack, Gerald, and Rondell. Andre also attended Compton College where he received his GED and continued taking extra courses. Andre’s favorite color was “BLUE” and he Hated “RED” - And He really hated, when Anthony bought his RED 1986 Toyota MR2 sportscar. Andre had a passion for reading. His curiosity came from asking Pops a question “What are you reading?” He was fascinated with astronomy, geography animals, world history, and he would read Britannica encyclopedias, fiction novels, Tom Clancy, Michael Connelly, and John Grisham are a few. Our dad had book subscription that would come to the house on Naval Warships, Air jets and planes. Andre was fascinated and read and studied over and over, absorbing everything and sometimes missing going outside to play. Andre could identify by giving him a description and sound of a bird or any animal and Andre could tell you the species.
“It’s a Mockingbird!” He enjoyed reading the newspaper from the neighbor’s yard. He would get up extra early before sunrise and go through the neighborhood to snatch the Sunday’s newspaper to read about his Pro team Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Angels and his college teams USC football and Louisville college basketball. We all benefited from that. Andre was very knowledgeable of a wide range of studies and can tell you what he studied and bring it to realization as if he lived it. Andre had a very important calling for his life. His mom Regina, His Grandmother Roberta, His Aunt Doris, His Aunt Beverly would tell Andre that God has a calling for you to serve Him. As a young man the world seems to offer so much more. After many years of dodging his purpose Andre heard the voice of the LORD. He dedicated himself to studying the Living word of God listening to devotions and sermons by Charles Stanley and other Godly pastors sitting in his chair over his tv table studying and hungry for the Word. Andre then began sharing what he learned with family and friends’ sending devotions every morning by phone text messaging. He shared the Word with over thirty family, friends and people he would come in contact with while walking to do his monthly shopping at Smart & Final. Andre took every opportunity to share the Word to as many people he came in contact with. In June of 2020, Andre had the opportunity to meet one of his three half-sisters Linda Ginez-Jacobs and waiting for the opportunity to meet Lenna and Lineza. He was very happy and complete to have a relationship with his sister Linda and cousin Marie Ginez. Andre was not an unkind man and he understood that nothing can be gained from holding a grudge. He spoke out when it really counted; and his strong principles did not allow him to let something stand unchallenged. Andre cared enough to act and to follow through. He never let anyone, or anything stand in the way of making things right. In closing, Andre, we will remember you through the many people still left behind whose lives you’ve touched so positively. You leave an amazing legacy. We will miss you, but we will always remember you with respect, admiration and love.
“Andre lived his life to the best of his own drum.” -Sister Linda Ginez-Jacobs “Andre will always tell me…Sweetheart let God’s will be done in my life.” -Cousin Marie Ginez
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelations 21:4 Andre served His purpose in Life.
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