By Sheilah Belle 

Exclusive --Chicago, IL – The Gospel Music Industry mourns the loss of the Legendary Lady Inez Andrews of the Caravans.  Andrews passed away in the afternoon of Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at her home in Chicago. 

She was slated to receive the Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award during the upcoming Stellar Awards Show in Nashville, TN in January 2013. 

Dorothy Norwood, another original member of the Caravans, told us exclusively here at The Belle Report that she was in the studio in Atlanta when the news came in.  “I was told of Inez’s passing when I walked out of the studio and got into the car. I actually talked with Inez two days ago.  She was very week, but God knows best.  She suffered so much, but she put up a good fight,” says Norwood.  “She had been sick since June of this year.” 

Norwoodsaid that family members told her that it wasn’t the cancer that took Andrew’s life, but instead it was her kidney’s that shut down.  She said that Andrews had just about stopped eating and had low fluids in her body. 

Andrews was at home during her passing with her grand-daughters and two daughters. 

About Inez Andrews 

In 1957, Andrews became a member of the gospel group The Caravans; she auditioned for Albertina Walker (Queen Of Gospel Music) and Dorothy Norwood, and they sent for her in Chicago. She has resided there, and used Chicago as a base for her performing career, to this day.