Andrew James Rivera was born on May 16, 1992, in Buffalo, New York, to Ray Gene Rice and Brunilda Rivera. After his childhood years in Buffalo, Andrew relocated to Waxhaw, North Carolina, with his mother.

Andrew entered eternal rest at home in Waxhaw, North Carolina, on March 2, 2026.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Holland Funeral Service, 806 Circle Drive, Monroe, NC 28112. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service from 1:00pm until 2:45pm.

Andrew was educated in the Buffalo Public School System and also attended Parkwood High School in Waxhaw, North Carolina, where he played varsity football and graduated with the Class of 2011.

Andrew worked for Weddington Methodist Church as maintenance. After working long hours, Andrew was also affectionately known and loved for being a football dad, as he supported his son Josiah at every practice and every game.

Andrew also loved to play basketball, football, and video games with his son and friends when he had spare time. Anyone that really knew Andrew knew he was a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan, attending many games with his oldest brother Tristan and his son Josiah. He also loved hiking and quiet walks. He found comfort in spending time with his nieces and nephews. While Andrew loved his whole family, he affectionately pushed and fought hard to be the best dad that he could ever be. He revolved his entire life around his sons’, calling his oldest son Josiah his little best friend. To know Andrew was to love Andrew. Humble, quiet, always smiling, and laid-back, Andrew will truly be missed.

Andrew was preceded in death by his father, Ray Gene Rice; his brother, Ray Lamar Rice Jr.; his grandparents, Ernesto and Aida Rivera, Hollie B. Cameron, and Mary Lucille Lee.

Andrew leaves to cherish his memory his loving mother, Brunilda Rivera of Buffalo, New York; his loving spiritual grandmother, Grace Lee of Buffalo, New York; three sons, Josiah James Rivera-Laney, Denver Ray Patterson, and Avery Bean Patterson; two bonus daughters, Sariah Taylor Laney and Amara Mariah Safrit, all of North Carolina; five brothers, Tristan Rivera (Katie Lynn Rivera), Elijah Dominic Rivera, Kerry Rice, Michael Rice, and Dawon Rice, all of Buffalo, New York; three sisters, Jasmine Faith Rivera Clark (Jervaris Clark) of Buffalo, New York, Melinda Rice Evans (Kent Evans) of Conyers, Georgia, and Dechante Rice Higgins of Macon, Georgia; two best friends, Gene Smith and Robert Slaughter of Buffalo, New York; two absolutely beautiful, supportive longtime special friends, Allison Laney and Brittany Strawn of North Carolina; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Holland Funeral Service is serving the Rivera Family.