JAMES LEE EVANS

Sept. 3, 1930 - April 8, 2012
SOUTH BEND - Mr. James Lee Evans, a resident of Eastmont Drive, South Bend, Indiana, passed away at 12:35 a.m. Sunday, April 8, 2012, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center at the age of 81 years. On September 3, 1930, in South Bend, James was born to James Lee and Mary (Neeley) Evans.

After graduating from Central High School in 1949, he attended Arizona State College in Tempe, Arizona. He then left for Oxford, England, to attend Oxford University under the Cecil Rhodes Scholarship Fund.

After leaving Oxford University, he enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1955, receiving the National Defense Service Medal.

Following his tour of duty in the Air Force, Mr. Evans was employed by the A.M. General Corporation where he completed 31 years of service, retiring in 1996. He also was past Committee Chairman of Teamsters Union #5, A.M. General Corporation.

James and Dorothy Love were united in marriage in 1984. During the course of his life, Mr. Evans was extensively involved in his community and in politics; he had a close relationship with Congressmen Joe Donnelly and Tim Roemer. He was Board Member of "No Child Left Behind"; Head Start Program; and later The South Bend Central Alumni Association. In addition, he was one of the founding fathers of Community Wide Credit Union.

He was a member of Elks Lodge #298 and subsequently was elected to the office of Trustee for a number of years before becoming the "Exalted Ruler" of Elks Lodge #298. He was instrumental in acquiring the adjacent property to the lodge and having it constructed into a new, much-needed parking lot for the lodge.

He later joined American Legion Post #357 as Judge Advocate. Prior to his death, he was elected by the membership to the position of "Post Commander," making him the first African American to hold this position in the 55-plus years of its existence, of which he was extremely proud.

Mr. Evans established a forum called "Night out for the Criminal Justice Department," which brought together all related officials creating a venue for addressing questions from the community helping to resolve issues. Since the age of five years, Mr. Evans was a member of Olivet AME Church and thus was a member for 76 years. He served on the Olivet AME Trustee Board and was very influential in engaging businesses to help the church. In 2010 he was selected from Olivet by the North District AME Church Conference "Man of the Year."

Survivors who will cherish his memory include his loving wife, Dorothy Evans; one daughter, Ramona of Indianapolis, Indiana; a son, Deion of Atlanta, Georgia; two grandsons, Deion of Atlanta and Derrick of South Bend; two sisters, Mildred Gillmore of New Jersey and Bernice Evans of Bowie, Maryland; four nephews, Savoy Evans, Andrae (Jo-Jo) Evans, LaVel Evans and Duane Leland Stigall; two nieces, Stephanie and Robbin; four great-nieces, Emily Evans and Allison Evans, both of South Bend, Melea of Maryland and Olivia of New Jersey; along with a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention but were deeply loved.

Mr. Evans was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary Evans; one brother, Lawrence Evans; and a sister, Veria Lee Brown.

Funeral services for Mr. Evans will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 14, 2012, at Olivet AME Church, with Rev. Franklin E. Breckenridge Sr., Esq., officiating. Interment will follow at Southlawn Cemetery. Friends may call Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Alford's Mortuary where arrangements have been entrusted. Friends may also call one hour prior to the services at the church. Messages of condolence may be e-mailed to alfordsmortuary@att.net, c/o the Evans family.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Apr. 12, 2012.

01/17/2023 EJS