Obituary for Gladys King Evans
Deaconess Gladys Josephine Lewis King Evans slipped away peacefully and reverently to be with her Creator and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, while surrounded by her family on Sunday morning, November 8, 2015. She departed on the wings of angels from the home of her daughters, Carolyn and Cynthia in Richmond, Virginia.
Gladys was born on March 14, 1922 to Deaconess Sarah Stokes Lewis and Charlie Lewis in Nottoway County, Virginia. Besides her parents, she was preceded in her journey to Heaven by her sister, Minnie L. Trueheart, her husbands, Clarence Powell, Tommie King and Richard Evans, her adopted sister, Irene M. Cypress, granddaughter, Deidra and great granddaughter, Ahmya.
Gladys graduated in 1940 from Nottoway Training School and was the salutatorian of her class. While a student at Nottoway Training School, she was a violinist in the school orchestra and a lead soloist in the school choir.
She was baptized at an early age at Springhill Baptist Church and served the church in many capacities and in many auxiliaries through the years. She was a member of the Springhill Deaconess Society, Senior Choir, the Inspirational Chorus, the Harris-Watkins Memorial Choir and the Sunday School. She was a Sunday school and vacation Bible school teacher and youth choir organizer and director. Always ready for a challenge, she led the church cemetery beautification and organization project. When not at her home church, she became a watch care member at these churches while living with her children; Cypress Baptist Church, Surry, Virginia, The Cathedral of Central Texas, Christian House of Prayer, Killeen, Texas, Word of Life Ministries, Richmond, Virginia.
After 28 years of service, Gladys retired from Central State Hospital in 1982 as a Ward Charge Attendant. An entrepreneur at heart, Gladys was a top Avon products distributor for many years and received Avon’s Annual Presidential award a number of times. She was also a distributor of Tupperware and Stanley home products.
A lover of flowers, Gladys and her mother enjoyed cultivating gorgeous flower gardens and exotic houseplants. She was a member of the Nottoway Home Demonstration Club which undertook many community projects. Her love of flowers led her daughter, Linda, to open the Something Special Floral Boutique and later, the Urban Dogwood Landscaping business.
Gladys also was passionate about her love of family and was a great caregiver. She opened the doors of her home to family near and far. She vowed that her home would be available to family as they became infirmed and needed care. To this end, she provided outstanding care to her mother, her father, her sister and niece and nephew, Audrey and Jackson, Jr. whom she raised the same as her own. And, we can remember the Homecoming Celebration Days at Springhill and Mt Nebo when carloads upon carloads and sometimes busloads of family would arrive at our house to celebrate the reunion of the family and to attend the homecoming services at Springhill and Mt Nebo. This is exemplified these days must notably by Carolyn and Cynthia who the family profoundly thank for the excellent care they gave to Gladys.
Perhaps Gladys’ greatest trait was her indomitable spirit. Built upon her unshakable faith in God, nothing could keep her from the goals that she set out to obtain. And, she did so without fussing, raising her voice (much) or condemning anyone. She was simply a gracious, loving lady, full of charm doing the will of God. How else can a single-mom raise 6 children and sometimes more, unless she is full of grace and blessed. Tommie and Paula remind us of this everyday.
Gladys leaves to cherish her deep faith and religious convictions, her love of learning and her compassion for her fellowman and justice for all to her children: Terry (Linda) of Surry, Va., Paula of Killeen, TX, and Carolyn, Linda (Albium), Tommie, Jr. (Connie) and Cynthia, all of Richmond, Va., and step-daughter, Mary Virginia of Shreveport, La.; sisters-in-law, Delores D. Evans of Blackstone, Va., Bessie M. Powell and Emma E. Anderson, both of Baltimore, Md., brothers-in-law Chester Evans of Blackstone, Va. and William Evans of Richmond, Va.; 14 grandchildren: Terry, Jr., Angela, Traci, Hassan, Jaran, Clifton, Jr., Tonya, Shayla, Ashta, Katina, Albium, Jr., Ahmad, Maurice and De-Shawn; 21 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, including 1st cousin, Napoleon Hawkes and many friends.Â
Funeral Services for Mrs. Evans will be Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 12:00 noon at Springhill Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Evans will be Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 12:00 noon at Springhill Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
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Gladys was born on March 14, 1922 to Deaconess Sarah Stokes Lewis and Charlie Lewis in Nottoway County, Virginia. Besides her parents, she was preceded in her journey to Heaven by her sister, Minnie L. Trueheart, her husbands, Clarence Powell, Tommie King and Richard Evans, her adopted sister, Irene M. Cypress, granddaughter, Deidra and great granddaughter, Ahmya.
Gladys graduated in 1940 from Nottoway Training School and was the salutatorian of her class. While a student at Nottoway Training School, she was a violinist in the school orchestra and a lead soloist in the school choir.
She was baptized at an early age at Springhill Baptist Church and served the church in many capacities and in many auxiliaries through the years. She was a member of the Springhill Deaconess Society, Senior Choir, the Inspirational Chorus, the Harris-Watkins Memorial Choir and the Sunday School. She was a Sunday school and vacation Bible school teacher and youth choir organizer and director. Always ready for a challenge, she led the church cemetery beautification and organization project. When not at her home church, she became a watch care member at these churches while living with her children; Cypress Baptist Church, Surry, Virginia, The Cathedral of Central Texas, Christian House of Prayer, Killeen, Texas, Word of Life Ministries, Richmond, Virginia.
After 28 years of service, Gladys retired from Central State Hospital in 1982 as a Ward Charge Attendant. An entrepreneur at heart, Gladys was a top Avon products distributor for many years and received Avon’s Annual Presidential award a number of times. She was also a distributor of Tupperware and Stanley home products.
A lover of flowers, Gladys and her mother enjoyed cultivating gorgeous flower gardens and exotic houseplants. She was a member of the Nottoway Home Demonstration Club which undertook many community projects. Her love of flowers led her daughter, Linda, to open the Something Special Floral Boutique and later, the Urban Dogwood Landscaping business.
Gladys also was passionate about her love of family and was a great caregiver. She opened the doors of her home to family near and far. She vowed that her home would be available to family as they became infirmed and needed care. To this end, she provided outstanding care to her mother, her father, her sister and niece and nephew, Audrey and Jackson, Jr. whom she raised the same as her own. And, we can remember the Homecoming Celebration Days at Springhill and Mt Nebo when carloads upon carloads and sometimes busloads of family would arrive at our house to celebrate the reunion of the family and to attend the homecoming services at Springhill and Mt Nebo. This is exemplified these days must notably by Carolyn and Cynthia who the family profoundly thank for the excellent care they gave to Gladys.
Perhaps Gladys’ greatest trait was her indomitable spirit. Built upon her unshakable faith in God, nothing could keep her from the goals that she set out to obtain. And, she did so without fussing, raising her voice (much) or condemning anyone. She was simply a gracious, loving lady, full of charm doing the will of God. How else can a single-mom raise 6 children and sometimes more, unless she is full of grace and blessed. Tommie and Paula remind us of this everyday.
Gladys leaves to cherish her deep faith and religious convictions, her love of learning and her compassion for her fellowman and justice for all to her children: Terry (Linda) of Surry, Va., Paula of Killeen, TX, and Carolyn, Linda (Albium), Tommie, Jr. (Connie) and Cynthia, all of Richmond, Va., and step-daughter, Mary Virginia of Shreveport, La.; sisters-in-law, Delores D. Evans of Blackstone, Va., Bessie M. Powell and Emma E. Anderson, both of Baltimore, Md., brothers-in-law Chester Evans of Blackstone, Va. and William Evans of Richmond, Va.; 14 grandchildren: Terry, Jr., Angela, Traci, Hassan, Jaran, Clifton, Jr., Tonya, Shayla, Ashta, Katina, Albium, Jr., Ahmad, Maurice and De-Shawn; 21 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, including 1st cousin, Napoleon Hawkes and many friends.Â
Funeral Services for Mrs. Evans will be Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 12:00 noon at Springhill Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Evans will be Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 12:00 noon at Springhill Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of arrangements.
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