Andrew C. Jefferson, 83, of Rock Island, passed away Tuesday May 19, 2015 at Unity Point-Trinity, Rock Island.
Services will be 12:00 p.m. Tuesday at Second Baptist Church, 919-6th Avenue, Rock Island, where visitation will be one hour prior to services. Burial, with military honors presented by Moline American Legion Post 246, will be at National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Arrangements are entrusted to Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island.
Andrew was born January 27, 1932 in Cypress, IL, the son of Charles and Grace (Droney) Jefferson. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army with service during the Korean War. He married Jayne Housley on March 18, 1953 in Marion, IL.
Andrew was a patrolman for the City of Rock Island Police Dept. for 18 years. Following his retirement from the police dept., he was a security officer at the Rock Island Arsenal. He also was elected and served two terms as First Ward Alderman of the City of Rock Island, and had served as director of Probation Services for the 14th Judicial Circuit and director of Rock Island Arsenal Heritage Festival.
He was a member of Second Baptist Church, Rock Island, and founder of the Rock Island City Junior Police and the Rock Island Police Teen Town Club.
Andrew enjoyed spending time with family, traveling, fishing and hunting. He was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and of the W.W.E. Network.
Surviving are his wife, Jayne, of Rock Island; son, Michael J. Jefferson, Sr., and his life partner, Jestine Campbell, Los Angeles, CA; daughter, Joni L. Jefferson, Davenport; grandchildren, Donna M. Jefferson, Los Angeles, Michael J. Jefferson, Jr., Buffalo, NY, Shaylynn Metcalf, Milwaukee, WI, and Shauntia Metcalf, Rock Island; great-grandchildren, Kevon, Jaishaun, Romeo, Nia, and Dwight Jerome; and cousins, Norma Berry, Anna Maria Deal and Patrick Lee, all of Dixmoor, IL; and favorite brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jim Housley and Ann Isaac; longtime family friend and Carrell family matriarch, Imogean Carrell; and close friends since childhood, Charles Muscovalley and Stanley Flowers.
Andrew was preceded in death by his parents.