Raymond Andrews facts for kids

Raymond Andrews (born June 6, 1934 – died November 25, 1991) was an African-American writer. He wrote several novels and a memoir. His books often told stories about life in the American South.

Early Life and Education

Raymond Andrews was born on June 6, 1934. He grew up in a place called Plainview, Georgia. He was the fourth of ten children. His parents, George and Viola Andrews, were sharecroppers. This means they farmed land owned by someone else and shared their crops with the landowner.

As a child, Raymond and his brothers and sisters helped their parents. They worked in the cotton fields and peach orchards nearby.

When Raymond was fifteen, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia. He lived at the Butler Street YMCA with his oldest brother. In Atlanta, he started working as a hospital orderly. He also went to high school at Booker T. Washington High School. He finished high school in 1952. After graduating, he joined the United States Air Force and served for four years. Part of his time in the Air Force was spent in Korea.

Becoming a Writer

After his time in the Air Force, Raymond Andrews went to Michigan State University for a short while. Then, he moved to New York City. He worked many different jobs there. He was an airline agent for KLM Airlines, an air courier, and a proofreader. Working for KLM Airlines allowed him to travel a lot. He visited countries like Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Raymond's first story was published in Sports Illustrated magazine in 1966. It was about the first time football was played in his hometown of Plainview. On his thirty-second birthday, he decided to quit his airline job. He wanted to focus only on writing.

In the early 1970s, a company called Dial Press started publishing his books. These books were part of a series called the "Muskhogean trilogy." The trilogy told stories about African-American life in the South. It covered the time from the end of World War I to the early 1960s. The three books in the series are Appalachee Red, Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee, and Baby Sweet's.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Raymond Andrews also led writing workshops. He gave talks as a guest lecturer. He also wrote many essays and reviews. In 1990, he published his memoir, The Last Radio Baby. A memoir is a book about a person's own life. The next year, he published another novel called Jessie and Jesus and Cousin Claire.

Personal Life

Raymond Andrews married Adelheid "Heidi" Wenger in 1966. They got married in New York City. The couple later divorced in 1980.

Raymond Andrews passed away in Athens, Georgia on November 25, 1991.

Published Books

• Appalachee Red (1978)
• Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee (1980)
• Baby Sweet's (1983)
• The Last Radio Baby (1990)
• Jessie and Jesus; and, Cousin Claire (1991)
• Once Upon a Time in Atlanta (1998)

Awards and Recognition

• 1979: James Baldwin Prize
• 2009: Inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame