Rev. Dr. Andrew Douglas

5/4/2021

Rev. Andrew Jackson Douglas, minister, devoted family member, trusted friend and confidant, departed his earthly home in New Orleans, LA on May 4, 2021.  He was born to the union of the late William H. Douglas and Ethel M. Douglas on December 18, 1927 in New Orleans, LA.  Rev. Douglas attended Orleans Parish public schools during his early years and graduated from the famous Gilbert Academy High School in 1947. 

Rev. Douglas served in the US Army 450^th Automatic Weapons Battalion in Alaska and other bases around the world.  After his military service, Rev. Douglas returned to New Orleans and enrolled in Dillard University, graduating in 1955.  He then attended Loyola University, earning a Master’s degree in Education.  His teaching career spanned 30 years at Carter G. Woodson Junior High, Joseph S. Clark High School, and McDonogh 35 High School.  He served as head basketball coach at Joseph S. Clark and McDonogh 35 High Schools.  

Following his teaching career, Rev. Douglas, with his ever-present drive to his “true” calling in ministry, enrolled in the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and from there, the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.  He went on to receive his Doctor of Humane Letters from the Union Baptist Theological Seminary.  Under appointments in Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Rev. Douglas served numerous churches in the New Orleans area including: Ninde Chapel, Shaw Temple, La Harpe, Thompson, and St. Matthew.  He served as Conference Secretary, was on the Board of Ordained Ministry, and was Chairman of the Board for the Lafon Nursing Home. 

Rev. Douglas was active in the New Orleans community serving on the Audubon Commission and the Housing Authority of New Orleans, where he served as chairperson and was instrumental in securing $22 million for the modernization of housing developments and scatter-site housing units. Rev. Douglas founded Camp Big Horn for inner-city youth in New Orleans that operated as a mentoring program and offered group activities.  Rev. Douglas was a member of The Original Illinois Club, Inc., The Studs Club, Inc., and a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, New Orleans Chapter for more than 60 years.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Alice Ray Douglas; two sons, Keith “Cartoonman” Douglas (Terri), and William “Billy” Douglas, Sr. (Veronica) and daughter, Andrea Douglas; nine grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; a host of family and friends.  He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Ethel Douglas, brothers, William H. Douglas, Jr. and Gerard Douglas, and sister, Yvonne Elwood.