Joyce Louise (Land) Evans, 86, a longtime resident of Cleveland, passed away on Tuesday, June 27. She is now rejoicing peacefully in the arms of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Louise Land and her beloved husband of 66 years, James W. Evans, Sr.
She was a native of Gadsden, Alabama, but had been a resident of Cleveland since 1965. She graduated from Gadsden High School and attended Jacksonville State University, where she met her future husband.
She was a faithful member of Westwood Baptist Church for 50 years. She taught Sunday School at the church for all but a few of those years. She was a frequent speaker at “His Hands Extended Ministry”, as well as at many Christian gatherings for women throughout the area. She was also a Bible Study leader for the “Precept Bible Study Ministry” for many years. An article in the Cleveland Banner referred to her as “The Erma Bombeck of Christian speakers” as she combined her wit and knowledge of the Bible into humorous stories that brought the Bible to life. It was once said of her by a fellow church member, “She was a woman of many skills, but when she stood to teach the Bible, there was no doubt that she was truly anointed by God.”
She is survived by a daughter, Brook Evans of Cleveland; four sons: James (Jim) W. Evans, Jr. (Margaret) of Knoxville; Dane Evans of Cleveland; Eric Evans of Cleveland; David Evans (Jeannette) of Charleston, SC. Also surviving are her grandchildren: Shane Ball, Joanna Ball, Erin Evans, Miles Evans, Catherine Wattenbarger (Marc), Emily Evans, Allison Malone (Danny), Jeanne Marie Evans, Martha Sandvig (David). She also had one great-granddaughter, Mia Evans. Her best friend and “sister”, Edna Johnson.
A celebration of her life will be held Friday, June 30, at 7 p.m. at Westwood Baptist Church, with the Rev. Nolan Phillips officiating. A private internment will take place Monday, July 3rd, at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga. The family will receive friends at the church from 4-7 p.m. at the church.
Pallbearers will be the deacons of Westwood Baptist Church. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Hope Sunday School class and Phoebe Sunday School class.
In lieu of flowers, Joyce asked that donations be made to the Westwood Baptist Church debt retirement fund.
You are invited to share a personal memory or your condolences with her family at www.companionfunerals.com.
Companion Funeral and Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the Evans family with these arrangements.