nancy bolton evans
1865-1965
Life Story
Biography of Nancy Bolton Evans (1865–1965)
Nancy Bolton Evans was born on July 29, 1865, in Mississippi, the daughter of James “Jim” Bolton and Patsy Bolton. Like many children born in the first generation after emancipation, Nancy’s early years were shaped by both hardship and the strength of extended family networks.
By 1870, five-year-old Nancy and two of her siblings were living in Garlandsville in northeast Jasper County, Mississippi, in the household of James and Nancy Brown, who were likely her grandparents or other close kin. These early years in Garlandsville anchored her in a community where faith, family, and labor were the foundations of daily life.
Marriage and Family Life
By 1899, Nancy had married Scott Evans (1874–1925) of Newton County. Together they built a large and deeply rooted family in the St. John community, where Nancy lived for the remainder of her life. Their union produced the following children:
- Melt Evans (1895–?)
- Fanny Evans (1896–?)
- Carry Evans (1898–?)
- Virgie Evans (1901–?)
- Gus Evans (1903–?)
- Arch G. Evans (1904–1979)
- Charlie Evans (1905–?)
- Velma Evans (1909–?)
- Essie J. Evans (1911–?)
- Myra Evans (1914–1983)
- Nancy Evans (1915–1976)
- Scott Evans Jr. (1919–?)
- Charles “C. B.” Evans (1919–1978)
As a young wife and mother, Nancy worked tirelessly alongside her husband on the home farm, contributing to the agricultural life that sustained so many Black families in rural Newton County. The 1910 census records her as having given birth to eight children, all of whom were living at that time—a remarkable testament to her care and determination in an era when childhood mortality rates were high.
Though she attained only a 4th-grade education, Nancy possessed an intelligence, steadiness, and work ethic that shaped every part of her family’s life. Her home became the center of stability for her children and grandchildren, extending her influence across multiple generations.
A Woman of Faith and Community
In her early adult years, Nancy joined Pilgrim Grove Presbyterian Church, one of the earliest and most important African American congregations in the region. She remained a faithful and dedicated member throughout her long life. The church and community remembered her as a “dear friend and neighbor,” a woman whose Christian walk was visible in her kindness, humility, and quiet strength.
Later Years
By 1950, advanced age had slowed her ability to work, and she resided with her son C. B. Evans, who cared for her in her final years. Even so, she continued to be a guiding presence in the St. John community—a matriarch whose wisdom was sought, whose stories were cherished, and whose faith remained unshakable.
Nancy lived to witness a full century of change—from Reconstruction through Jim Crow, the Great Migration, two world wars, and the dawn of the Civil Rights era. She died on June 4, 1965, at 5:15 p.m., after several months of illness.
At the time of her passing, she left behind:
- 10 children
- 50 grandchildren
- “A number” of great-grandchildren
- Many other relatives, neighbors, and friends who mourned her departure
Homegoing and Legacy
Nancy’s funeral was held on Sunday, June 6, 1965, at Pilgrim Grove Presbyterian Church. The sanctuary was filled with loved ones, neighbors, and friends. Rev. W. J. Gipson, pastor, officiated the service, assisted by several ministers who paid tribute to her Christian life and long record of service.
She was laid to rest in the Evans Cemetery on Mt. Moriah Road, surrounded by generations of family whose lives were intertwined with hers.
Nancy Bolton Evans’s journey—from a Reconstruction-era child in Garlandsville to a revered centenarian matriarch—reflects the enduring resilience and faith of the African American families of Newton and Jasper Counties. Her legacy continues through the vast Evans family tree and the community she helped shape with her labor, devotion, and steady presence.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
1865-1965
Sources
- 1870 Federal Census
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- The Newton Record, A.G. Evans Obituary, Wed, Feb 07, 1979 ·Page 14
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- The Newton Record, Nancy Evans Obituary, Wed, Jun 09, 1965 ·Page 9
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
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