alsena williams evans
1871-1972
Life Story
A Century-Long Matriarch of Faith, Family, and Endurance
The life of Alsena Williams Evans is a remarkable testament to endurance, spanning more than a century of Mississippi history. Born on July 3, 1871, in Newton County, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Nick Williams and Nancy (Nelson) Williams.
Her life began in the fragile years following the Civil War and extended into the modern era, making her a living witness to Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Great Migration, and the early years of the Civil Rights Movement. Through it all, she remained a steady and enduring presence at the center of her family.
Marriage and Early Family Life
Around 1890, at approximately 19 years old, Alsena married Robert Thomas Evans, often called “Bob.” Robert, who was nearly twenty years her senior, established their home in Beat 4 near the Lawrence community of Newton County, where they would build a life rooted in land, labor, and family.
Together, they raised a large family of twelve children, creating one of the prominent Evans households in the area.
By the 1900 Census, Alsena—recorded as “Sina”—was managing a bustling household that included her first five children:
- James A. Evans
- Mattie Evans
- Sarah Evans
- Olivia Evans
- Rena Bell Evans
Also living in the household was her mother, Nancy Nelson, reflecting the multi-generational nature of rural Black family life.
Census records from this period indicate that Alsena could read and write, a meaningful achievement in the post-Reconstruction South.
The Growing Household and Economic Life
As the twentieth century progressed, the Evans family continued to expand. By 1910, additional children had been born, including:
- Fannie Evans
- Alberta
- Wess Evans
- Charlie Evans
- Lindsey Evans (Lenzay)
Later children included Annie Laura and Lucille, completing the large family of twelve.
Like many African American families in Newton County, the Evans household was rooted in agricultural labor. Census records from 1930 and 1940 list Alsena as both a laborer and housewife on the family farm, roles that required constant physical work and management of a complex household economy.
Her home functioned as more than a nuclear family dwelling—it was a multi-generational hub, often housing grandchildren and extended relatives. Records show grandchildren such as John and Joseph Ellis, and later members of the Simmons family, living within her household.
Despite occasional inconsistencies in census records—common in early documentation—the overall picture is clear: Alsena was the enduring center of a large and evolving family network.
The Centenarian Matriarch
At some point prior to 1972, Robert Thomas Evans passed away, leaving Alsena as the matriarchal head of the family.
Her later years were marked by the extraordinary expansion of her descendants. As her children and grandchildren participated in the Great Migration, the family spread across the United States:
- Las Vegas, Nevada (son West Evans)
- Joliet, Illinois
- Detroit, Michigan
- Wayne, Arkansas
Despite this geographic spread, Alsena remained rooted in Newton County, a living link to the family’s origins.
She was also a lifelong member of Union Chapel Methodist Church, joining at an early age and remaining a faithful Christian throughout her life. Her faith community remained central to her identity and daily life.
Passing and Legacy
Alsena Williams Evans passed away on October 4, 1972, at Newton Hospital, at the remarkable age of 101 years old, following a period of declining health.
Her obituary reflects the vast scope of her legacy. She was survived by:
- 4 daughters:
- Sarah Johnson (Joliet, IL)
- Albirdia Hornsby (Lake, MS)
- Rena B. Simmons (Lawrence, MS)
- Lucille Johnson (Lawrence, MS)
- 3 sons:
- Lindsey E. Evans (Kosciusko, MS)
- Wess Evans (Las Vegas, NV)
- Charlie Evans (Lawrence, MS)
- 36 grandchildren
- 89 great-grandchildren
- A host of great-great-grandchildren
She was also survived by three sisters:
- Lizzie Yorbach (Arkansas)
- Laura Curry (Detroit, Michigan)
- Hattie Bobbett (Lawrence, Mississippi)
Her funeral service was held at Union Chapel Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Curtis Davis, and she was laid to rest in the Union Chapel Church Cemetery.
Enduring Significance
Alsena Williams Evans’ life is extraordinary not only for its length, but for its continuity. She bridged generations—from the children of formerly enslaved parents to descendants living across a modern, industrial America.
Her home anchored a family that grew into the hundreds. Her faith sustained her through decades of change. And her presence ensured that the Evans family remained rooted in Newton County even as its branches spread across the nation.
She stands as one of the great matriarchs of your family history—a woman whose life embodies endurance, faith, and generational legacy.
Biographical Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth | July 3, 1871, Newton County, Mississippi |
| Death | October 4, 1972, Newton County, Mississippi |
| Age at Death | 101 years |
| Parents | Nick Williams and Nancy (Nelson) Williams |
| Spouse | Robert Thomas Evans (m. ~1890) |
| Children | 12 total (including Jim, Mattie, Sarah, Oleva, Rena Bell, Fannie, Alberta, West, Lindsey, Annie Laura, Lucile, Charlie) |
| Occupation | Farm Laborer; Housewife |
| Religion | Member, Union Chapel Methodist Church |
| Residence | Beat 4, Lawrence, Newton County, Mississippi |
| Burial | Union Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery |
Resting Place
Union Chapel United Methodist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 – 1940 Federal Censuses
- .S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- The Newton Record, Alsena Williams Obituary, Wed, Oct 18, 1972 ·Page 16
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