ida mae evans jordan
1905-1990
Life Story
Early Life & Family
Ida Mae Evans Jordan was born on October 21, 1905, to Archie Evans (1871–1942) and Cora Walker Evans (1875–1929). Raised in a rural farming household, she worked from an early age as a farm laborer on the home farm, reflecting the shared responsibility that sustained many families in Newton County.
In 1931, she married Johnny Jordan (1903–1989). Together they raised a blended household that included both biological and stepchildren, a common but demanding family structure in the early 20th century South.
Children of Ida Mae and Johnny Jordan
- Howard Jordan (1940–2006)
- Archie Lee Jordan (1941–1972)
- Georgie Nell Jordan (1943–1994)
Stepchildren in the Home
- Pringle Jordan
- Bessie Jordan
- Boston Jordan
- Newton Jordan
- Albert Jordan
Education & Work
Ida Mae completed the 4th grade of elementary school, an achievement shaped by the realities of farm labor and limited educational access. By 1950, her occupation was listed as keeping house, a role that encompassed domestic labor, childrearing, and community support.
Faith, Church Life & Leadership
Ida Mae Evans Jordan was an active and trusted member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as a deaconess—a position reserved for women known for spiritual maturity, service, and discipline.
A church program documenting Women’s Day at St. John records her participation among the deaconesses who led devotion, meditation, and prayer during a major annual observance. The service highlighted women’s leadership in worship, organization, hospitality, and instruction, underscoring Ida Mae’s role within a collective of highly respected church women.
Later Years & Death
Ida Mae Evans Jordan passed away on December 6, 1990. She is laid to rest at St. John Missionary Baptist Church graveyard, among family members and fellow congregants whose lives were similarly rooted in faith, labor, and community.
Key Accomplishments & Roles
- Farm laborer in early life, contributing to family survival
- Matriarch of a blended household raising biological and stepchildren
- Completed elementary education under limited circumstances
- Homemaker and household manager
- Deaconess at St. John Missionary Baptist Church
- Participant in Women’s Day worship leadership and devotional service
Why This Matters
Ida Mae Evans Jordan’s life reflects the quiet authority of Black church women whose leadership was exercised not from pulpits, but through faithful service, discipline, and care for others. Her role as a deaconess places her among the spiritual backbone of St. John—women who sustained worship, mentored younger generations, and ensured continuity during decades of social and economic change. Through lives like hers, the church functioned not only as a place of worship, but as a stabilizing institution for families and the wider Newton County community.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
1905-1990
Sources
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- Scott County Times, Johnnie Jordan Obituary, Wed, Mar 29, 1989 ·Page 2
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
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