laney evans
1885-1913
Life Story
A Life of Labor, Love, and Enduring Legacy
Early Life and Family Roots
Laney Evans was born between 1881 and 1885 in Newton County, Mississippi, to Benjamin Evans (1840–1909) and Josephine Walker Evans (1852–?), during a period of social and economic transition in post-Reconstruction America. She grew up in the Altare community, where her parents and extended family were among the early African American landholders and sharecroppers striving for independence and dignity after emancipation.
Her upbringing was defined by the rhythms of rural life—working the fields, tending livestock, and contributing to the family’s survival. Through this, Laney developed a reputation for hard work, humility, and devotion to her family, traits that would define her short yet meaningful life.
Marriage and Motherhood
On October 19, 1898, Laney married Kenry Evans (1877–?), the son of Jarred Evans (1858–1934) and Mary Mosley Evans (1860–1923). Their union united two deeply rooted families whose names were well known across southern Newton County. Together, they worked the land as farm laborers, balancing the physical demands of agriculture with the responsibilities of raising a large family.
By 1910, Laney had given birth to eight children, six of whom were still living, reflecting both the joys and sorrows of motherhood in an era when child mortality remained heartbreakingly common. Her home, though modest, was filled with warmth, laughter, and faith. Each child was a testament to her resilience and maternal strength.
Children of Laney and Kenry Evans
- Joanna Evans (1899–bef. 1910)
- Elbert Evans, Sr. (1899–1977)
- J.B. Evans (1901–1991)
- Durwood Evans (1902–?)
- July Evans (1903–?)
- Pete Evans (1908–1985)
- Annie Evans (1911–?)
- Callie Evans (1912–?)
- Gipson Evans (1912–1992)
- Julia Evans (1913–?)
Laney’s children would go on to spread across Mississippi and beyond, many continuing the farming tradition or joining the Great Migration northward in search of better opportunities.
Tragedy and Farewell
Laney’s life was tragically cut short on October 21, 1913, when she succumbed to tuberculosis, the same disease that claimed so many lives in early 20th-century Mississippi. She was only in her early thirties. Her uncle, Bob Walker, served as informant on the death certificate, providing the official record of her passing—a painful duty that underscored the family’s closeness and shared grief.
Laney was laid to rest at the Altare Missionary Baptist Church graveyard, surrounded by the familiar landscape she had known all her life. The cemetery’s peaceful setting—shaded by pines and adorned with seasonal wildflowers—became a gathering place for remembrance, where family and community could reflect on her life and legacy.
Legacy and Reflection
Though her years were few, Laney’s influence endured through her children and grandchildren, who carried forward her example of strength, labor, and faith. Her life embodied the experience of countless African American women of her generation—working mothers who held families together through hardship and hope. In the Altare community, her story remains a reminder of the quiet power of perseverance and the love that sustains generations.
Sidebar: Laney Evans (1881–1913)
Birth: Between 1881–1885 – Newton County, Mississippi
Parents: Benjamin Evans (1840–1909) and Josephine Walker Evans (1852–?)
Spouse: Kenry Evans (1877–?)
Children: 10 known (see list above)
Occupation: Farm laborer and homemaker
Cause of Death: Tuberculosis
Informant: Bob Walker (uncle)
Burial: Altare Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard, Newton County, MS
Resting Place
Altare Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
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