Andrew Harris

Andrew (Drew) Harris was born on September 22, 1957, in Tucson, AZ and raised in Denver, CO.  Andrew, a preacher’s kid, was greatly influenced by his father’s love for God and appreciation for scripture. As a child, Drew grew up on 34th and Williams. His friends knew him for a bold tongue and strong opinions, yet a warm, easy presence. He and his friends spent much of their time outside of school filling their bottomless stomachs with food from Caro Burgers, smack-talking, and playing around. As a teen, he was a protector to his younger sister Emily and a mentor to his nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Manual High School, Andrew followed his friend Duane Lucas to Iowa — running a 4.5 40 to earn a full football scholarship — to attend Iowa Wesleyan University. Later, Drew attended the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) where he was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated in 1977. From there, he transferred to Aims Community College and earned his associate degree. To top off his education, his sight keen on attending Howard University, he moved to Washington, D.C., accomplishing his hard-fought goal.

At Howard, he was an all-time athlete: he played football, basketball, and ran track. Moreover, he won a paid position singing in the esteemed Howard Gospel Choir.

Afterwards, Drew returned to Denver, CO to raise a family. He grew to become a “jack of all trades,” working as a resource counselor for Rangeview High School, in reservations for United Airlines, as a bouncer for Denver’s renowned Jazz club, The Peck, and flipping houses over the course of his life’s career.

Most of all, Andrew was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. When he walked in a room — oftentimes, singing with his baritone voice — his presence was unmistakable. He was a natural entertainer and descriptive storyteller. He could quickly move from a Jeopardy-esque recalling of historical fact to an artistic, heartfelt recitation of poetry. Andrew will be remembered for his gregarious personality, amazing voice (he participated in a plethora of choirs), resilience, love for music, luxury cars, real estate, fine cuisine, hole in the wall restaurants and, of course, his insatiable appetite for sweets. He also loved watching sports, animal shows, movies, trivia, traveling, and listening to Jazz music.  More than anything, Andrew’s legacy lay in his exhortation to us:

“Be Excellent And Do Great Things.”

Drew is preceded in death by his mother Darcelle G. Harris, his father Andrew L. Harris, his former wife Janet Tucker and brothers Willie Gilford, Kenneth Gilford, and Frank Gilford.

Those left to cherish Andrew’s memory and live out his legacy are  his devoted wife Brenda Harris; his children, Tiffani Harris, Andrea Harris, Andrew Harris III (DeVora), Mary Lou Fulson (Marc), Brooke Destiny Morgan-Bland and Sterling Bland; his grandchildren Imani Cosby, Jayda Harris, Kelsey Harris, Fredrick Fulson, Winston Fulson, Jonathan Fulson, and Morgan Fulson; siblings Deanna Paulin, Joyce Wimbush, Johnny Gilford, Raymond Gilford, and Emily Harris, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.