infant son of shelby evans and mary moncrief
1924-1924
Life Story
Burial: Bethel (Likely Evans Cemetery) – Newton County, Mississippi
Birth and Family
The infant son of Shelby Evans (1893–1976) and Mary Moncrief Evans (1900–1934) was born prematurely on July 20, 1924, in Newton County, Mississippi. He was delivered at just 6½ months gestation, a fragile beginning during a time when premature infants had almost no access to specialized medical care.
This child was part of the extensive Evans family network whose roots were firmly planted in the Altare, Bethel, and Mt. Moriah communities.
Midwife and Family Support
The midwife attending the birth was Iley Jane Evans, a skilled and trusted family midwife known throughout the community. Her presence at the birth reflects her ongoing role as the primary caretaker in early Evans family deliveries.
The informant on the death certificate was Dudley Evans, Shelby’s brother, who assisted in reporting the child’s birth and passing—an example of the strong family support system surrounding the Evans households.
Passing and Burial
Due to extreme prematurity, the infant survived only briefly.
He was laid to rest in Bethel, which—based on Evans family burial patterns, proximity to the family settlement, and usage of the name “Bethel” in early records—is almost certainly the Evans Cemetery.
Burials for infants in the 1920s, especially those born prematurely, were carried out quickly and with quiet family ceremony, often without a marked grave.
Legacy
Though his life was brief, this infant represents the daily reality faced by rural African American families in the early 20th century, when:
- Infant mortality was high
- Premature births had little chance of survival
- Midwives like Iley Jane Evans were the primary birth attendants
- Family members documented these events by hand
Including his story preserves the memory of a life that was short but meaningful in the family’s history. He remains part of the Evans Cemetery narrative and the legacy of the Shelby Evans and Moncrief family lines.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
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