Mother Minnie Stewart Evans

Mother Evans was born in Coats, North Carolina in Harnett County to Hillery and Larcenia Stewart on their 500 acre farm. Mother Evans was the eighteenth child of twenty children. She began her formal schooling around 1917 where she attended the City of Coats School System. She earned her high school diploma in 1932. Due to a small delay, she never gave up on continuing her education in which she was eagered for knowledge. The year 1937 was an exciting year for Minnie Stewart (Evans) for two reasons: it was her first year of college at Fayetteville State Teachers College, and during that same year she entered into holy matrimony with the love of her life, James Evans. She was the apple of his eye for the next sixty seven years until his eternal transition in 2004. This wonderful love affair blossomed two beautiful children: Vivian and Ranier. She received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Education in 1943, and at that appointed time she received a message from the college President, Dr. Seabrook to inform her that there was a need for a graduate in education to teach in the Bulloch County, Georgia School System. There she would receive her first assignment as an educator in which she maintained for thirty six years. During that tenure as a leader in education, she was assigned the honorable task of teaching and being a principal. For many children in the community, she was more than a teacher or principal, she was also a confidant and a surrogate parent to others to love and nurtured. Mother Evans expanded her leadership role at an early age when she became a member of Coats Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in North Carolina. One of her many talents was being an accomplished musician for numerous churches in the area and instrumental in organizing their church choirs. Later in life, she joined Original First African Baptist Church in Bulloch County under the pastoral leadership of Rev. W.D. Kent, where she served as church secretary and a member of other auxiliaries such as: the Education and Youth Departments, Mother’s Board, Willing Workers and Deaconess Board. After relocating to Cleveland, Ohio to live with her daughter Vivian, her and the late Deacon James Evans attended the Everlasting Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of the Rev. DeWitt Chapell. Mother Evans departed this earthly life on Sunday, August 25, 2013 at her daughter's residence in Cleveland, OH. Her memories and everlasting love will continue to live in the hearts of her family: her two children, Mrs. Vivian Elaine Ridley, Cleveland, Ohio and Ranier DeCarlo Evans, Atlanta, Georgia; three beautiful grandchildren, Carmen, Valarie, and Marshall Ridley; three great-grandchildren, Xavian, Marshall III, and Valencia, Aubrey and a host of nieces, nephews and beautiful friends. Public viewing for Mother Evans will begin on Sunday eveing from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Monday from the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hill's Mortuary, Inc. The Homegoing celebration service for Mother Evans will be held 12 noon, Tuesday September 3, 2013 at the Original First African Baptist Church, the Rev. Frankie L. Owens pastor/presiding, with the Rev. Bennie Brinson,officiating. Burial will be in the Bulloch Memorial Gardens. Mother Evans will lie in state at the church one hour until the funeral services. There will be no viewing after the eulogy. Final rites have been entrusted to Hill's Mortuary, Inc.