franklin d. evans
1946-1994
Life Story
Laid to Rest: Evans Cemetery – Newton County, Mississippi
Early Life and Family Background
Franklin D. Evans was born on August 17, 1946, in Newton County, Mississippi. He was the son of Arch G. Evans (1904–1979) and Ludie Chapman Evans (1909–1989), members of two of the most deeply rooted Black family lines in the Altare–Evans Cemetery community. Raised among a large family of siblings, cousins, and extended kin, Franklin grew up within a close-knit rural community built on shared labor, land, and generational ties.
Education and Early Work
Franklin came of age during a period of transition for Black families in Newton County, as economic opportunities gradually expanded beyond farm labor. He learned skilled mechanical work and entered the trades during the 1960s and 1970s, a time when African American craftsmen were increasingly sought by local industries.
Career and Skilled Trade
Franklin Evans established himself as a respected mechanical journeyman, specializing in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and mechanical projects. A feature article in The Newton Record highlights his long tenure with Climatic Control Engineers, Inc., a major mechanical contracting business based in Newton.
He worked more than 10 years for the company and was recognized for:
- His professionalism
- His skill in mechanical and sheet-metal work
- His contributions to major commercial, school, and hospital projects across Mississippi
Franklin’s expertise placed him among the key craftsmen who helped modernize local institutions—such as Meridian schools, community college buildings, hospitals, and county facilities—during the late 20th century.
His dependable service and craftsmanship left a lasting imprint on the community’s infrastructure.
Family and Community Life
Franklin remained close to his family roots in Newton County throughout his life. As a member of the Evans family, he was part of a wide and well-respected kinship network associated with the Evans Cemetery, Bethel, Altare, and surrounding areas.
He balanced his working life with the values he learned from his family: steadiness, humility, and dedication.
Passing and Burial
Franklin D. Evans passed away on November 14, 1994, at the age of 48. He was laid to rest in the Evans Cemetery, joining generations of his family whose graves form the core of the historic burial ground.
Though his life was relatively short, Franklin’s impact was long-lasting. Through his craftsmanship, he contributed to the physical growth of Newton County and surrounding communities, and through his family, he remains part of the legacy built by the Evans and Chapman lineages.
SIDEBAR: Evans Men in Skilled Trades
Craftsmen, Builders, and Mechanical Workers of Newton County
For generations, the Evans family of Newton County produced not only farmers and landholders, but also skilled tradesmen whose mechanical knowledge, carpentry skill, and industrial labor contributed to the growth of local schools, churches, hospitals, and businesses. Their work helped carry the Evans legacy from the farm fields into the modern workforce.
Franklin D. Evans (1946–1994)
Mechanical Journeyman • HVAC & Industrial Projects
- Worked more than a decade with Climatic Control Engineers, Inc.
- Skilled in sheet metal, heating and air conditioning systems, and mechanical assembly
- Contributed to major projects across Mississippi, including schools, hospitals, and commercial buildings
- Recognized by employers for reliability, craftsmanship, and long-term service
Franklin represents the modern expansion of Evans family labor into industrial and technical fields.
Arch G. Evans (1904–1979)
Highway Laborer • Farm Mechanic
The father of Franklin, Arch Evans worked as both:
- A laborer for the highway department
- A home farm worker familiar with machinery, implements, and maintenance
His generation bridged the world of hand labor and the rise of engine-powered farm and county equipment, passing on mechanical aptitude to his children.
Other Evans Tradesmen in the Community Record
Frankie D. Evans (mid-20th century)
Director of Local Baseball Club • Community Organizer
Newspaper reports mention Frankie D. Evans directing the Montrose Baseball Club. While not a mechanical trade, his leadership role placed him among Evans men known for guiding community organizations—often the same men whose work experience involved logging, carpentry, or mill labor.
Ezra Evans (1897–1985)
Gardening & Institutional Labor • Mississippi State Hospital (1930s–1950s)
While Ezra’s life was marked by tragedy, census and institutional records show he worked as an unpaid gardener and grounds laborer at the Mississippi State Hospital. His role required agricultural knowledge, tool use, care of large grounds, and seasonal maintenance—skills typically developed by Evans men through farm work.
A Family Tradition of Skilled Hands
Across multiple generations—from the early 1900s through the late 20th century—Evans men became known for abilities such as:
- Carpentry and woodwork
- Mechanical repair
- Skilled farm equipment handling
- Sheet-metal work
- HVAC system installation and maintenance
- Groundskeeping and construction labor
- Road and public works labor
These skills supported not only their own households, but also Newton County’s schools, churches, and public buildings, making Evans family craftsmanship part of the region’s physical landscape.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- The Newton Record, Wed, Jun 06, 1979 ·Page 16
- The Newton Record, A.G. Evans Obituary, Wed, Feb 07, 1979 ·Page 14
- U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
- U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
- U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
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