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Seventy years ago on January 13, 1950, John W. Bandy was born to the late parentage of Royzell  and Lizzie Askew Bandy and was raised by his grandmother, Mrs. Mattie Ridgeway. At an early age, he joined Bethel Baptist Church in Opelika.

John attended Morris Brown college and was employed by the City of  West Point as the city’s first black animal control officer and was later hired as a police officer where he was promoted to sergeant and became the city’s first black detective.  His journey through life touched many lives including his wife, children, grandchildren, and many others.

“ Johnny,” as he was known to many,  was married for 47 years to his high school sweetheart, Janice Gilbert Bandy; to this union three children were born, Yulanda Bandy, Dexter Bandy, and Tracy Bandy.

On July 18, 2020, at 7:02 a.m. John said goodbye and closed his eyes.

Johnny was preceded in death by his siblings, Mary Lois Bandy, Racine Moore, Phyllis Askew, Jackie Wallace, and Charlie Shealey.

He leaves to rejoice in his homegoing, one daughter, Yulanda Bandy (Michael Hood), Stone Mountain, Georgia; two sons, Dexter Bandy (Jackie Bandy), LaGrange, Georgia, Tracy Bandy, West Point;  nine grandchildren, Jonathan Jackson, Tevin Hood, Rani Hood, Deshantare Bandy, Jayda Hood, Aysia Hood and JeMer Finley; five great grandchildren, Shiloh Hood, Zymaria Patten, Zaiden Patten and Michael Hardy; his adopted children, LaTisha W. Patten, Bridgette Stanley and Adrian Pittman; three sisters, Elayne Allen, West Point, Myrtis Goss, Lanett, Flora Jackson, LaGrange, Georgia; one brother, Benjamin Bandy, West Point, three lifelong best friends, Willie Wright, George Lovelace and Michael Barrow and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and very special families, Tommy and Dorothy Gilliam and their children, Lovie Lee Gilbert and her children.

Graveside services for Mr. Bandy will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2020, at noon in the Marseilles Cemetery with the Rev. Michael Jackson, officiating and Bishop Donald Lancaster, assisting.

Public viewing will be held on Friday, July 24, 2020, from 2 pm until 4 at the mortuary.

To express online condolences, visit www.mwleemortuary.com

M.W. Lee Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.