Every April, the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry is the focus of a prayer for safe travels across the Tred Avon River. It’s an annual event that kicks off the ferry season, but this year marked the celebration of a special milestone.
After 23 years at the helm of the 65-foot ferry named Talbot, owners Judy and Tom Bixler have handed the keys to a new ferry duo, 20-year U.S. Coast Guard veteran Jim Andrews and his wife Mary.
The oldest privately owned ferry in the United States made its first ¾-mile crossing to Bellevue 343 years ago. Since then, it has continuously operated and charmed locals and visitors alike.
“The passion and the love the people feel toward the ferry is just incredible,” Andrews tells Chesapeake Bay Magazine, amid a crowd of supporters at the ferry blessing on Friday night. “I really just want to grow the operation, and every boat requires a lot of love and care. We just want to keep going for another 340 years.”
Andrews also operates the Texas-based marine company JettyLight. For now, he and his wife will ensure the ferry continues to operate on its regular schedule but will live in both Maryland and Texas.
The blessing ceremony was performed by the Reverend Kevin Cross from Oxford’s Church of the Holy Trinity for the 14th year in a row. Traditionally, the crowd sings the “Ferry Chantey” (sung to the tune of sea chantey “Drunken Sailor”), which goes, in part, like this:
Aye boys we love our ferry
Aye girls we love our ferry
Aye mates we love our ferry
She’s the pride of Oxford.
This year, in light of the ferry changing hands, a new verse was added:
Our ferry has a new Captain
His name is Jim – he’s from Texas
Hope he can sail – he’s from Texas
and steer us across the water.
Upon hearing the new verse, Andrews smiled and said, “I hope so too.”
Along with the tradition of singing the Ferry Chantey, Father Cross read Psalm 107, which makes reference to merchants who went out on the sea in mighty waters and “saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep” (Psalm 107:24), but lost hope when they were faced with terrifying storms.
“In their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end (Psalm 107:27).” This line was delivered as a lighthearted warning to Andrews; he assured the crowd that as ferry captain, he would heed that warning (and not lose courage, nor reel and stagger).
In the psalm, the merchant sailors cry out to the Lord to bring them out of their distress, and He calms the waves and safely guides them to their destination, a reassuring conclusion for the Andrewses as they embark on this new ferry endeavor.
What’s next for Judy and Tom Bixler, as the Andrews family takes on the mantle? The Bixlers are remaining in place in Oxford. Tom says, “I will be on the water. I like it. I will probably be a relief captain once in a while when needed. I have two other boats so I will be spending time on the water fishing. It’s so pretty. It’s bittersweet. Being that I’m 73, I’ve realized I gotta get it all in now.”
Judy says they plan to travel some to visit with their grandchildren, but their hearts remain on the Oxford-Bellevue line. “I want to write the history of this ferry. After all these years, we have a lot of stories that go along with it.”
When asked if she has advice for Andrews, Judy says, “Enjoy it. We feel that we’ve created a great family and hope that he will be able to do the same thing.” Andrews pledges that he and Mary will grow to become part of the community of Oxford.
If you’re curious, here is the full Ferry Chantey as written for the 2025 ferry blessing:
