lela billingsley evans
1895-1983
Life Story
Laid to Rest: Evans Cemetery – Newton County, Mississippi
Early Life and Family
Lela Billingsley Evans was born on March 21, 1895, in Newton County, Mississippi. She was the daughter of Henry “Tab” Billingsley (1862–1910) and Crossie Barks Billingsley (1865–1958), members of one of the longstanding families of the Newton County region.
Raised in a rural agricultural household, Lela learned the skills, responsibilities, and resourcefulness necessary for life on the farm—knowledge that would shape her daily work and later become part of her civic identity.
Education
By the 1940 U.S. Census, Lela reported completing the 7th grade of elementary school, which was a significant achievement for African American girls in rural Mississippi during the early 20th century. Her education supported her lifelong involvement in community leadership, literacy-based homemaking clubs, and countywide extension programs.
Marriage and Children
Lela married Dudley Evans (1896–1988). Together they built a strong family and were parents to:
- L.D. Evans (1921–?)
- Vonnie Mae Evans (1923–2018)
- Climmie B. Evans (1924–?)
- Earline Evans (1926–?)
- Infant Son Evans (1926–1926)
- Audrey L. Evans (1930–?)
- Thearchie Evans (1933–?)
Their children later spread throughout Mississippi, California, and Georgia, carrying the Evans family legacy into new communities.
Work and Daily Life
In her early years, Lela worked as a laborer on the home farm, contributing to the agricultural livelihood of her family. By 1950, she was recorded as keeping house, managing the daily operations of a rural home, preparing food, preserving crops, making clothing, and supporting her children’s growth.
But Lela’s work extended far beyond her household.
Church and Community Leadership
Lela was a deeply involved member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, where she:
- Led devotionals
- Participated in community worship leadership
- Supported church programming and youth activities
She also belonged to Cedar Grove Primitive Baptist Church, where she served as secretary-treasurer, a major leadership role for a woman of her era.
Home Demonstration & Homemaker Club Achievements
Lela Billingsley Evans was one of the most accomplished and widely recognized Black homemakers in Newton County. Newspaper records document more than two decades of involvement, leadership, and award-winning work.
Newton County Homemaker Clubs & St. John Home Demonstration Club
Lela served as:
- Devotional leader
- Meeting pianist
- Craft and skills demonstrator
- Active club member representing St. John at countywide events
She regularly taught or demonstrated skills such as:
- Sewing
- Dressmaking
- Apron and towel making
- Food preservation
Canning, Craft, and Agricultural Competitions
Across the 1950s–1970s, Lela Evans won multiple blue ribbons and county and state-level honors, including:
- First-place county winner and third-place state winner (1962)
- Awards for exhibiting the most jars of canned fruits and vegetables
- Multiple ribbons at the Newton County Fair
- Recognition from the Mississippi Extension Homemakers Council
She was repeatedly listed among the top exhibitors, often ranking alongside or above other leading homemakers.
25-Year Service Pin
At a statewide meeting, Lela Evans was honored as one of the women receiving a 25-year service pin for outstanding contribution to homemaking and community development.
Her recognition places her among the most active and devoted rural homemakers in Newton County’s African American history.
Passing and Legacy
Lela Billingsley Evans passed away on August 20, 1983, at age 88 at the Baptist Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Funeral services were held at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Purvis Moore officiating.
She was laid to rest in the Evans Cemetery, joining her husband and generations of family members.
Her survivors included her husband, Dudley Evans; seven children; sisters Della B. Posey and Candacia Pare; a granddaughter; and a large extended family.
Legacy and Impact
Lela Billingsley Evans’ life stands as a testament to:
- Black women’s leadership in rural Mississippi
- Community service through homemaker clubs
- Faith-based leadership
- Agricultural and domestic mastery
- The strength of the Evans and Billingsley family networks
Through her decades of teaching, canning, sewing, community devotion, and homemaker leadership, she helped strengthen the cultural, civic, and agricultural fabric of Newton County’s Black community.
Her name appears repeatedly in newspapers because she earned it—through talent, dedication, leadership, and service.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- The Newton Record, Lela Billingsley Evans Obituary, Wed, Aug 31, 1983 ·Page 5
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
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