pleas l. evans
1876-1927
Life Story
.Early Life and Family Background
Pleas Evans was born around February 1876 in Newton County, Mississippi, to Benjamin Evans (1840–1909) and Josephine Walker Evans (1852–1911). He was born during the Reconstruction era, a generation removed from slavery, into a family rooted in land, church, and community life in Newton County.
Growing up in the Evans household meant being raised within a strong kinship network that helped shape the early foundations of communities such as Altare. Like many sons of formerly enslaved families, Pleas entered adulthood in an agricultural economy that offered limited opportunities but relied heavily on family labor.
Marriage and Children
Around 1893, Pleas married Dilcy Brown. He worked as a farm laborer, contributing to the rural agricultural life that sustained his family and community.
From this union, the following children were born:
Allen Evans (1895–?)
Louisa Evans (1897–?)
May E. Evans (1900–?)
Magnus Evans (1902–?)
Maud Evans (1904–?)
Essie Evans (1907–1964)
James Evans (1913–?)
Willie Mae Evans (1916–1940)
Through these children, the Evans lineage continued into the twentieth century, carrying forward the family’s presence in Newton County and surrounding areas.
Death and Burial
Pleas Evans passed away on March 17, 1927, in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, at Mattye Hersee Hospital. The cause of death was listed as myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle—a condition that, prior to modern medical advances, was often fatal.
He was laid to rest at the Altare M.B. Church graveyard, returning in death to the community that had shaped his life.
Legacy
Pleas Evans lived during a pivotal period in Mississippi history—bridging the Reconstruction generation and the early Jim Crow era. As a farm laborer, husband, and father of eight children, his life reflects the steady perseverance of Black agricultural families who built community institutions, sustained kinship ties, and endured economic and social hardship with quiet strength.
His resting place at Altare M.B. Church stands as a testament to the enduring connection between land, faith, and family in Newton County.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- Tennessee, U.S., Death Records, 1908-1965
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