Graveside Service forMSister Grace Emma Pope Evans, age 79, was held Friday, July 8, 2022 at 10:00
a.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Needham, AL with Rev. John
Watkins, officiating. Rev. Keith Howell
served as Eulogist.

Sister Grace Evans was born on September 7, 1942 to the late Eli Hudson and the late Sylvia Pope in Sweet Water, AL. She confessed Christ at an early age and united with Independent Missionary Baptist Church. She loved the Lord and was a faithful member of Independent Baptist Church where she worked as a member of the usher board, mission society, and in many other capacities.

She graduated from Marengo High School at the age of fifteen. She then entered Selma University and after two years there, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa at the age of nineteen. Upon completion of her degree, she worked in several school systems. Initially, she taught in the Covington County School System where she taught biology and chemistry at Woodson High School for three years. This teaching experience was a tumultuous time as the schools attempted to adhere to a court order focused on integration of the schools there. Because of this, she had to transition frequently. During this period, she served at A.L. Martin High School in Thomasville, Kirksey High School in Aliceville, Union High in Monroeville, Courtland High School, and then Hatton High School. She finally settled at Marengo High School where she taught for seventeen years and served as a teacher and counselor.

In 1989, Sister Grace Evans began her employment with the Choctaw County Board of Education. She started at Choctaw County High School but during her tenure with the school system, she worked with Shady Grove Junior High, Southern Choctaw Middle School, Butler Elementary School, and two stints at Southern Choctaw High School. She also served another stint with Choctaw County High School. She served twenty-four years of her career
with the Choctaw County School System.

As she progressed through her career, she continued tonwork toward higher levels of education during the evenings, weekends, and
summers. She completed her Master ofbEducation in Biology and Chemistry Education in 1968; a Master of Education in School Administration from the University of Montevallo in 1975; a Master ofnEducation in Guidance and Counseling from Alabama State University in 1980; and an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Montevallo in School Administration and Guidance and Counseling. She also participated in professional and educational opportunities at Clark University in Atlanta (1968), Auburn University (1970), Florida Technological University in Orlando (1971), and the University of Alabama (1972). These educational experiences that she participated in helped her to serve students as best she could in her daily work. She always felt that her primary responsibility was to promote and provide for the development of every child in the school in which she worked in terms of their personal and social development. She was instrumental in starting programs such as, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), drug awareness programs (DARE and Just Say NO!), and Teens Getting Involved in the Future (TGIF). Additionally, she has been instrumental in starting a chapter of Future Teachers of Alabama at her school, for which she has received several grants from the Alabama State Department of Education/Alabama Education Association. The funds from these grants have been beneficial in inspiring her students to pursue careers in the teaching profession while encouraging the students to achieve academically.

In June 2012, after more than forty-eight years of service to students through the State of Alabama, Grace Pope Evans retired as counselor
from Southern Choctaw High School. During her career, she had served in a variety of capacities including teacher, counselor, and assistant principal. Through them all, her commitment to helping students to achieve their goals was her mission. Her journey started in
Sweet Water, AL and progressed throughout a remarkable career focused on helping students to succeed academically.

Along with her passion for education and church duties, she was also committed to civic and community work. Her Christian values and loving heart connected her as a member of the Bright Star Chapter 616 of the OES. She was also a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and served faithfully as anmember of the Sisters of Marengo County.

Later in life, Sister Grace Evans met her companion and soulmate. She united in Holy Matrimony to the love of her life, the late John Evans.
The two were married for 21 years. Grave Pope Evans was called to eternal rest on July 3, 2022. She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Hazel Pope, one brother, Molian Dixon, and one sister, Ruby Rodgers.

She leaves to cherish her memories: a loving son, Myron (Shanna) Pope; three grandchildren, Michael, Allison, Isaiah; a brother, James
(Anna) Pope; a sister, Bertha Gamble; a niece, Sonya Pope; two nephews, James Darin Pope and Thomas (Sonda) Rodgers; one sister-in-law, Dorothy (Wayne) Banks; a godbrother, Luther (Dean) Edwards; three goddaughters, Tisha Lewis, Traci Hosea, Emily Worthy; two cousins, Shelby Lockett, G.J. Tensley; family friends, Doris Franklin, Willie Mae Worthy, Vera Harris, and Barbara and Larry Fuller; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, other extended family members, acquaintances, the Independent Missionary Baptist Church family, James and Jackie Williams, Willie and Elaine Williams, Sandy and David Nunez, and all others that she loved as her own and who loved her.