Andrew G Cope

Andrew G. Cope, 79, passed away July 27, 2020.He was predeceased by his parents, Andrew N. And Mary Katherine (Copeland) Cope. Andy was a lifelong native of Signal Mountain and loved the place where he grew up. He graduated from The Baylor School in 1959 where he was a Captain in the school’s military corps and was also Captain of a MidSouth Champion soccer team. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1963 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and was President of the SAE fraternity during the fall semester of his senior year. Andy joined the U.S. Army in 1963 as a Second Lieutenant and graduated from the Army’s artillery school in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, before going to Germany and serving two years with the Second Battalion, Seventh Artillery, within the 24th Infantry Division. He was stationed in Augsburg, Germany. Andy was proud of his service and enjoyed the many lifelong army friends he made, including Bill Schwartz, Al Butler, and Bob Mann. He joined American National Bank and Trust Company in 1965. Much of his 29 year career with the bank was spent in management on the trust side of the business. He was named Vice President of the Trust Investment Department in 1975 and Executive Vice President of the Trust Department in 1981. In 1982 the bank was acquired by Third National Bank in Nashville, and by SunTrust in 1986. During this time, Andy’s responsibilities included Trust, Asset Liability Management, Private Banking and Human Resources. He served as a Bank Director and became Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Allied Arts. In 1994, Andy left the bank to become President of Johnston Southern Company. While there he was involved in investment and the many activities of the Summerfield K. Johnston family office. He served as Executive Chairman of the Krystal Company and MetalTek International. During his last years with Johnston Southern Company, he became President of The Tucker Foundation, which through the exceptional generosity of Summerfield K. Johnston, remains dedicated to supporting Education and Conservation. He served on the Board of Trustees of Baylor School from 2016-2020. Andy was a member of the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club and The Honors Course where he greatly enjoyed golf with his close golfing friends Chris Warren, Tom Rowland, Buddy Landis, Joe Richardson, Howard Levine, Ray Soileau, and James Woods among many others. For many years they were a serious golf group, but later on his group was affectionately called the “Hit and Giggle” group. Along the way, Andy became an Instrument Rated Private Pilot and enjoyed flying cross country flights around the area for several years. He also often spoke fondly to his family about his close friends Wellington Ford, Bonnie and Hale Hamilton, and Hayne Hamilton. Andy is a member of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Shirley G. Cope, daughter Katie (Blake) Murchison, his grandchildren Abby and Emma Murchison, his brother, O. Gordon (Judy) Cope, nieces, Jennifer Pukish and Carolyn Cope, and grandnephew, Simon Ikenberg. A family graveside service will be held at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center or Hospice of Chattanooga, Mountain View Team. Arrangements entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415 www.lanefh.com 423-877-3524