Friends and colleagues are remembering longtime Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Gary Blaylock Andrews, 73. He died Saturday at his home in Chickamauga on land his grandparents farmed, where he could gaze north across the horse pasture and see Lookout Mountain.

"This is a really tough blow around here," Georgia Court of Appeals Clerk Steve E. Castlen said Monday morning. "He was loved around the court. He was known for being absolutely brilliant. And he had an incredible sense of humor."

Castlen said Andrews suffered from lung and heart problems and had COPD—but not COVID-19. Andrews had been in declining health since his retirement in 2018.

Castlen recalled bringing in a special chair for Andrews during a portrait unveiling ceremony that was memorable because the honoree spoke. In his 28 years on that bench, Andrews was known for silence, rarely uttering a word, let alone a question. But that day, he kept the packed courtroom laughing—mostly at his own expense. He said he never wanted to be Atticus Finch. He couldn't even remember the fictional lawyer's name. Colleagues had to help him. He said his "epiphany" for studying law came in a University of Georgia chemistry lab. Despite winning statewide elections many times—including by what he called a "50.1 percent mandate"—he couldn't stand campaigning. He didn't even want to walk into the diner in his hometown—which he called "Mayberry"—and have to speak to everyone. "That's not me," he added.

Friend and colleague John Ellington, a Georgia Supreme Court justice and formerly a judge on the Court of Appeals, joked, "There are people there."

"Yes," Andrews said. "I don't like that."

But on Monday, people were remembering what they liked about Andrews.

Court of Appeals deputy clerk Christina Smith put together a wealth of comments and shared them with the Daily Report. She also shared the description of the view from the beloved family farm.

"In law and in life, it's the people you meet and the friends you make who make a difference," said Ellington, who served with Andrews on the Court of Appeals for almost 20 years. "Gary Andrews made a difference to the State of Georgia, the State Bar, and his home community in Chickamauga."

"He was a terrifically supportive friend and colleague. I will miss him terribly," said Justice Michael P. Boggs, who also served with Andrews on the Court of Appeals.

"He was an able jurist," said Chief Judge Christopher J. McFadden. "I found him to be a kind and wise man beneath his gruff exterior."

"Even though we often had different views of the law, Judge Andrews was a valued colleague for many years, and I am very sorry to hear of his passing," Judge Anne Elizabeth Barnes said. "I wish his family comfort during this most difficult of difficult times."

"Judge Andrews was always a consummate gentleman, always so very nice and decent. He always looked out for me," Presiding Judge M. Yvette Miller said.

"Judge Andrews was more like a friend than a boss," said his former staff attorney Joe Chandler, who worked for the judge during his entire tenure on the Court of Appeals. "He would kid that I continued to call him 'Judge' even though I knew him better than most people who called him 'Gary.'"

And then there were tweets.

From Judge Brian Rickman @bmrickman: "I served on a panel with Judge Andrews and now Justice Ellington not long after I was appointed. He had a biting sense of humor that I loved. He never made disagreement personal. Left me with a million good stories. I'm so sad."

From Presiding Judge Stephen Dillard @JudgeDillard: "Judge Gary Andrews was my colleague, my dear friend, and a cherished mentor. I will miss him more than I can express in words."

From Vice Chief Judge Carla Wong McMillian @JudgeCarla: "Known for his wit and wisdom, Judge Andrews was the presiding judge for my panel on my first year on the Court of Appeals and I will miss him greatly. Rest in peace, my friend."

Andrews is survived by his three children: Elizabeth Paige Andrews, Gary B. "Blake" Andrews Jr., and Blane A. Andrews. Castlen said they have asked that instead of flowers, friends consider donations to a fund in their father's name at his high school in Chickamauga. Donations can be mailed to Gordon Lee Alumni Association, 402 Cove Road, Chickamauga, GA 30707. They plan to have a memorial service at a later time.

Andrews earned a B.B.A. in accounting and a J.D. from the University of Georgia. He modestly credited UGA for landing his first job in 1971 as an assistant attorney general of Georgia because then-AG Arthur Bolton feared he'd hired too many Emory University law grads. In 1976, he went home to open his own law office in Chickamauga. In 1980, he won election to the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court, serving Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties. In 1985, Gov. Joe Frank Harris appointed Andrews to the Georgia Public Service Commission, where he later won election and served as chair. In 1990, he won election to the Court of Appeals. He was reelected there in 1996, 2002 and 2008. He served the court as chief judge from 1997 to 1998.

Here's a link to the Daily Report's story on Andrews' portrait unveiling ceremony, which he called "better than hauling hay."