dora lee robinson evans
1933-2024
Life Story
Birth & Family Background
Dora Lee Robinson Evans was born on June 27, 1933, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Newton Robinson (1885–?) and Clemmie McDonald Robinson (1895–1959). She was raised during a period when family, church, and community networks were essential to daily life and survival in rural Newton County.
Marriage & Family
On November 18, 1953, Dora married Henry Wilson Evans (1927–2001). Their marriage spanned several decades and produced a large family that became firmly rooted in the St. John community.
Together, Dora and Henry were the parents of:
Daughters
- Gwendolyn Evans Pearson
- Marilyn Evans
- Loretta Evans Goffney
Sons
- Henry Evans (“Bo”)
- Robert Evans
- Johnny Evans
Through this union, Dora became the matriarch of an extended family that eventually included sixteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren, as noted in Henry Wilson Evans’s obituary.
Faith & Community Life
Dora Lee Robinson Evans shared her husband’s deep connection to St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Following the family’s return to Newton County from Texas, Dora remained closely associated with the church community that shaped much of her adult life. Her family’s involvement in worship, music, and church fellowship placed her at the center of St. John’s multigenerational life.
Later Years
After Henry Wilson Evans retired from Champion Paper Company and returned to Newton County, Dora continued to reside in the home community. She remained surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and extended family, embodying the continuity between generations that defines many St. John family histories.
Death & Burial
Dora Lee Robinson Evans passed away on July 10, 2024. She was laid to rest beside her husband in the Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard in Newton County, Mississippi.
Legacy
Dora Lee Robinson Evans’ life reflects the quiet strength of women whose legacy is measured through family, faith, and perseverance. As a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she played a central role in sustaining a large family whose roots and identity remain closely tied to St. John Missionary Baptist Church and the surrounding Newton County community.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- The Newton Record, Henry W. Evans Obituary, Wed, Aug 29, 2001 ·Page 2
- Texas, U.S., Birth Index, 1903-1997
- U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019
- Scott County Times, Larcenia Thompson Obituary, Wed, Jun 21, 1978 ·Page 9
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