Lorrie Andrew-Spear Obituary, Death – On April 3, Lorrie Ann Andrew-Spear passed away in Woodbridge, Virginia. 53 years old. Lorrie worked hard for the government. She worked for Falls Church City Public Schools and Prince William County before becoming a public information/communications officer for Hampton. She worked with Hampton and was recognized by the American Society for Public Administration with the George Robert House Award in 2000 for her integrity, leadership, and ingenuity.
After joining the Virginia Department of Health in 2013 as the Northern Virginia Regional Public Information Officer, she was promoted to statewide Risk Communications Manager. She received her certification as a Master Public Information Officer from FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute, garnering the respect of her peers around the country.
She was a pioneer in national information and public health organizations. Additionally, Lorrie cherished doing community service. She put in a lot of time organizing farmers market donations for food banks in Prince William County as a Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener. Lorrie, a gardener, adored Virginia’s native plants. Her areas of expertise were hiking and mountaineering.
She completed the W Circuit in Patagonia, trekked the Algarve and West Coasts of Portugal, traversed the Grand Canyon from rim to rim, and ascended numerous 13ers and 14ers in Colorado and New Mexico. She competed in five half marathons. She cherished going to national parks in the US and Canada. She read contemporary suspense novels as well as classics.
She read every day. Her 28-year partner Curt G. Spear, Jr., of Woodbridge, Virginia, Lorrie’s parents Ruben and Peggy Andrew of Chesterfield, her brother Keith Andrew and sister-in-law Shannon Andrew, as well as four nieces and nephews, survive her. Mark Andrew, her brother, passed away in Lehigh Acres, Florida. Her many friends and coworkers will cherish their memories of her elegance, kindness, character strength, sense of humor, and unwavering optimism.