Doris Jean Williams Evans

Mrs. Doris Jean Williams Evans was born March 12, 1935 to the late Clyde and Minnie Williams in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Her father was a sharecropper and a Jack-of-all-Trades; her mother was a homemaker who homeschooled her children. Doris told us that her mother went to the Superintendent of Schools and told him that if her children couldn’t go their local school, they could at least provide the books so that she could teach them at home. And they did! After being homeschooled in the first and second grades, young Doris attended the Mt. Zion School on the campus of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church from third through eighth grades. She later graduated from Fair Street High School in 1952; her diploma reads “Gainesville Colored High School.” After working in the poultry plant with her Aunt Frances for a few years, Doris received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1959 from HBCU Paine College. She also became certified as a teacher in 1959 and began her teaching career in Covington, Ga. After many suitors, on July 21, 1961 Doris selected Bennie Evans, a brick mason and entrepreneur, to be her life partner and husband. From that union came Lynne, a financial accountant; Arnold, a West Point graduate and lawyer; and the baby, L. Todd, an engineer. Bennie and Doris would go on to pursue many business endeavors including B & E Quality Homes, Mangum’s Service Station & Grocery Store, and The Place for Fine BBQ to name a few. Still new in the teaching world, Doris continued her education. She was among the first wave of Negroes to graduate from the University of Georgia, receiving a master’s degree in Education in 1970. A few months later, she was offered a position to be the first Black teacher to work in an all-White school at Candler Street; it was integrated shortly thereafter. In 1972, she was appointed as the director of the newly launched preschool, Early Child Development Center. She remained in this position until it was no longer affiliated with the Gainesville City School system. In 1983, Mrs. Evans returned to teaching in the classroom at Enota Elementary School where she taught kindergarten through third grades. In 1991, she was selected to manage the startup of Centennial Elementary School. Her responsibilities covered the spectrum from hiring teachers to ordering classroom supplies. After her assignment was completed and to her surprise, she was named the first African American Assistant Principal at this new school. She remained in her position until she retired in 1999, after 41 years as an educator. In 1985, Doris was initiated into the Lambda Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her Chapter positions were Basileus, Anti-Basileus, Grammateus, Pecunious Grammateus, Hodegos, and Philacter. She traveled throughout the country attending conventions and training sessions. She also participated in the recruitment and initiation of new Sorors. After retirement, Grandma Doris was heavily involved in her grandchildren’s education by showing up to read on Fridays in their classrooms and attending their school functions. She also enjoyed gardening and sewing, and became involved in several organizations such as the Hall County Black History Society, Georgia Retired Educators Association, Gainesville-Hall County Metropolitan Planning Organization, Northwestern Baptist Association Mass Choir, Northeast Georgia Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity in Education, and Home Development Resources, Inc. Doris supported many charitable organizations, which included American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Easter Seals, American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House, March of Dimes, Make A Wish Foundation, United Negro College Fund, Special Olympics, Heart Association, Alzheimer’s Association, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Food Bank, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and her alma mater, Paine College. As a life-long member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Mother Evans served in numerous capacities over the years such as member of the Pastors search committee and Senior Choir, and President and Treasurer of the Mother Board—just to name a few. As a two-time Cancer Survivor, Mrs. Evans taught us more than reading and writing. She taught us how to carry ourselves with grace, class, and professionalism—regardless of how others treated us and regardless of the pain of our circumstances. Doris is preceded in death by her husband, Trustee Bennie Evans; her brother, Rev. Calvin W (the late Mattie) Williams; and her sisters, Sarah Eloise Williams ( the late Robert) Stringer and Maggie Ruth Williams (the late Doc) Lowe. She leaves to cherish her memories three children: Lynne (Cedric) Randolph of Gainesville, GA; Arnold (Joyce) Evans of Atlanta, GA; and L. Todd (Shelia) Evans of Flowery Branch, GA; her six grandchildren: C. Monique Randolph of Sugar Hill, GA; Cierra (Orrin) Portwood of Marietta, GA; PaShance Evans of Flowery Branch, GA; Dominique Evans of Valdosta, GA; Asha & Aaren Evans of Atlanta, GA; her four great-grandchildren: Treyven and Andre Blackwell, Cymphoni Giles, and Madison Greene; her sisters: twin Dorothy (Rev. Gene) Dean of Hepzibah, GA; Geraldine (the late Rev. B.G.) Roberts of Savannah, GA; and Ernestine (the late Deacon Harold) Williams of Clinton, SC; and a host of sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends whom she held dear.

Doris Jean Williams Evans

March 12, 1935 - May 20, 2022