Metro Police Officer Andrew Nash, a former Yellow Ribbon scholar, was remembered as “a hero” during a memorial service Thursday in the Ezell Center’s Swang Chapel.
“Andy was, by all measures, a hero,” said Jim Thomas, the executive assistant to university president Randy Lowry, during the memorial.
“One who has given his or her life to something bigger than self – that was Andrew David Nash. A person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities – that was Andrew David Nash.”
Nash, 30, who graduated from Lipscomb in December 2013, died April 14 of apparent natural causes.
“This is a person who had a strong adherence through his faith and through his daily practice of life, of adhering to character and sacrifice,” said Thomas, a professor in the communications department and a veteran himself.
Nash had been a member of the Metro Police Department since 2007. He also served the Andrew Jackson Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police as a board member.
“Officer Nash was an extremely well-liked and respected officer who was carrying on his father’s fine tradition of service to Nashville and its citizens,” said Chief Steve Anderson in a press release.“The Nashville Police Department is a family. Our hearts are deeply saddened by Andy’s untimely passing.”
Nash’s father, Bob Nash, is a retired East Precinct Commander.
Nash served in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007 and served two tours in Iraq.
A Yellow Ribbon student, he completed his bachelor’s degree in law, justice and society in December.
Randy Spivey, academic director of the institute for law, justice and society, met Nash on his first day in a four-hour night class that focused on human trafficking.
Nash was a vocal participant in the course, always bringing up the subject of abortion in conjunction with human trafficking – something that Spivey said was not a hit with the other students in the class.
But, to Spivey, Nash’s passion offered a look into his character.
“And, though, what became clear to me in that class as we went forward, and that was never clear to the other students, was that the connection between human trafficking and abortion was inescapable for Andrew because both were ultimately and intimately tied to how we value human life and how we treat the weaker person,” said Spivey, who struggled to fight off tears during some of his speech.
“To Andrew, it was the same conversation. He refused to allow his life and thoughts to be divided into things so trivial as an issue. He had no patience for issues. All was one faith, and all was one confession.”
Spivey commended Nash’s drive as a student.
“His refusal to accept easy answers drove people absolutely crazy, his refusal to stop learning and stop thinking, and I loved that,” Spivey said. “It’s the kind of thing that you pray for as a teacher.”
Spivey met with Nash a few weeks ago at the FOP lodge, and there, he saw the good works and aspirations the police officer was partaking in.
“He was doing good and faithful work, and he was full of joy from that work – joy that comes from working in the middle of a kingdom that has come and is coming, joy that is believing so much in the promise of resurrection that it directs your living through the weak and defeated arms of death.
“I will miss him a great deal. He was a friend,” Spivey said. “But, his story, like mine and like yours, does not end with the grief we feel here.
“We are promised and confess that resurrection is coming, and may we live in that truth together without fear and may we, like Andrew’s, have voices that are so annoying and so honest that we invite people and challenge people into a better way.
“May we follow Andrew’s example in being people whose lives and work are living confessions that death is conquered and powerless, and resurrection will come.”
To Thomas, Nash’s life was one about helping others.
“Every facet of this man’s life was devoted to service, honor, country,” Thomas said. “What a great representative and role model he was for each of us. As his obituary said, his life was exceptionally well-lived.”
Nash is survived by his father, mother, two sisters, nieces and nephews, a grandmother and other family.