pete evans
1888-1988
Life Story
Birth & Parentage
Pete Evans was born on April 30, 1888, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Jarred Evans (1858–1934) and Mary Mosley Evans (1860–1923). He was raised during the post-Reconstruction era in rural Newton County, where farming and land ownership shaped daily life.
Education & Early Work
Pete Evans completed the third grade of elementary school, a level of schooling common among African Americans of his generation in rural Mississippi. From an early age, he worked on the family farm, gaining skills that sustained him throughout his life.
Marriage & Family
By 1912, Pete Evans married Lula McDonald (1895–2006). Their marriage endured for more than 75 years, making them one of the longest-married couples documented in Newton County history. Together, they built a large family whose descendants spread across Mississippi and beyond.
Their known children include:
- S.M. (Sam) Evans (1912–1988)
- Robeca Evans (1915–1917)
- John P. Evans (1919–?)
- Raphe Evans (1922–?)
- Clyde Evans (1924–2013)
- Theron Evans (1925–2006)
- Infant Son (1927–1927)
- Titus Evans (1928–1951)
- Carl Evans (1933–?)
- Laltom Evans (1934–?)
- James Lee Evans (1937–2004)
- Jastin Evans (1937–?)
The Evans household reflected both the hardships and resilience of large farming families in the early 20th century, including the loss of several children in infancy or young adulthood.
Farming & Property
By 1940, Pete Evans was listed as owning his farm, valued at $2,200, a significant achievement for an African American farmer in segregated Mississippi. Land ownership placed him among a smaller number of Black farmers who achieved a measure of economic independence despite systemic barriers.
Community & Faith
Pete Evans and his family were deeply rooted in Saint John Missionary Baptist Church, which served as the spiritual, social, and cultural center of their lives. His faith community remained central from early adulthood through his final years.
He was widely respected within the Evans family and the broader community, a status reflected in later reunions and honors.
Later Years & Recognition
During his lifetime, Pete Evans witnessed extraordinary change—from the cotton-dominated economy of the late 19th century through the Great Depression, World War II, and the Civil Rights era. In 1986, he and Lula Evans publicly celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary, renewing their vows and drawing extended family members from across the country.
He was later honored as the eldest member of the Evans family, a recognition of both his longevity and his role as a family patriarch.
Death & Burial
Pete Evans passed away in 1988 at the age of 100. Funeral services were held at Saint John Missionary Baptist Church, and he was laid to rest in the St. John Cemetery, alongside generations of Evans family members.
Legacy
Pete Evans’ life reflects the long arc of African American rural history in Newton County—marked by land ownership, faith, endurance, and family continuity. His descendants form one of the most extensively documented family networks connected to Saint John M.B. Church, making his story foundational to the cemetery’s broader historical narrative.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- The Newton Record, Pete Evans Obituary, Wed, Sep 21, 1988 ·Page 6
- Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
- U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
- U.S., WWI Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918
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