Andy Norman

Andy Norman, M.D. passed away peacefully on April 5, 2026, Easter Sunday, at the age of 74. Andy was a physician, missionary, husband, and father who spent his life caring for others through medicine and sharing his Christian faith. He often said he felt called to both from the age of nine.

Andy was born on October 17, 1951, in Lincoln County, Georgia, to Murray and Mickey Norman. Although his work later took him around the world, Lincolnton always remained home to him. He graduated from Lincolnton High School in 1969 as Salutatorian. He attended the University of Georgia before entering the Medical College of Georgia, where he trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In 1975, Andy married Judy. Together they built a life centered around family. They lived for many years in Boone, North Carolina, where they raised their three daughters, Sara Beth, Amy, and Cat. In 1989, Andy and Judy moved with their family to Nigeria to serve with the International Mission Board. They lived there for twelve years, where Andy practiced medicine and worked closely with local communities.

After returning to the United States, Andy took a position at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, working in the Global Health Department and serving on the Gynecology faculty. At age 62, he chose to retire early so he could return to medical mission work.

Over the next decade he completed more than seventy-five medical trips to countries including Guyana, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Somaliland, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Nicaragua, Madagascar, Benin, Niger, Uganda, Malawi, Guinea, Senegal, and Guatemala. He worked with organizations including Samaritan’s Purse/World Medical Mission and Mercy Ships. Andy focused especially on helping women suffering from childbirth injuries. He performed surgeries to repair obstetric fistulas and trained local doctors so the work could continue after he left.

Andy always enjoyed coming back to Georgia to visit family and friends. While home he liked attending LC Red Devil football games, cutting firewood (and then cutting more firewood), boating and water skiing on Clarks Hill Lake, and going to the Masters Tournament when he was in the country.

In 2024, Andy was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Throughout his illness he remained steady in his faith and thankful for the visits, messages, and prayers from friends and family. In his final months he often sang old gospel hymns about heaven.

Andy is survived by his wife of 50 years, Judy, their daughters Sara Beth, Amy, and Cat, nine grandchildren, his brothers Dan and John, and his sister Veve.

In keeping with Andy’s lifelong commitment to helping others, he donated his body to science at Vanderbilt University. The family will not be holding a funeral service at this time. Andy’s ashes will be laid to rest at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Boone, North Carolina, the church that first sent him into mission work.

In keeping with Andy’s wishes, donations may be made in his name to Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Mission: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/dr-andy-norman-manchester-tn/