We honor the life of our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Cousin, Mother Mary Della Evans. Mother Evans was the fourth child born to the union of Ulysses and Maggie (White) Owens on May 4, 1937 in Eclectic, Alabama. She was united in holy matrimony to Olin Stewart in 1965.
The family moved to Gary IN in 1967 and later moved to South Haven MI to pursue a better life for their family and this is where the legacy began. After the dissolution of the marriage to Mr. Stewart, Mother Evans was united in holy matrimony to Mr. Moses Evans. Mother Mary Della Evans joined Greater Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ in 1969 under the leadership of Bishop F.L. Cunningham.
Her family is proud to say that she was the oldest member at Greater Pentecostal Temple COGIC. She had been a member for 49 ½ years. Upon Bishop Cunningham’s transition she continued to serve the Church under the leadership of Pastor Fred Lee Cunningham.
Mother Evans served as the President of the Prayer and Bible Band for many years and was a Mother on the Mothers’ Board. Mother Mary’s favorite songs were “I’m Running for my Life” and “I’m On the Altar Lord, I Want You to Bless My Soul”. Her favorite scriptures: Hebrews 11:1 and Psalm 27:10.
Her favorite saying: “Cleanliness is Next to Godliness”. Mother Evans (Mae Mae as she was affectionately called by all the young people who knew her) was a woman of many skills as well as a woman of great faith and virtue. She worked at South Haven Coil, WalMart, Snow White Laundry, Josephine Brazelton Laundry and Four Star Corporation.
She was a direct care worker in South Haven, a senior volunteer at Countryside Nursing Home and she was a Foster Care parent for many years. Mother Evans worked hard to provide for her sons. There was not a job or position that was too menial for her to accept as she pursued the better life for her children.
Mother Evans could sew (this was evident in the lace socks that she provided for the little girls at the Church). We recognized, especially at Easter, all the babies with Mae Mae socks on because that beautiful, colorful lace would definitely be touching the sidewalk as they walked proudly to Church! She would cook and invite the neighborhood over to eat her delicious food.
There were many days that Mother Evans would sit out in a chair on her front lawn and she would be surrounded with her babies. Not only her natural grandchildren but the neighborhood children as well. Mother Mary Della Evans transitioned from this natural life on Sunday, May 6, 2018.
She took her last breath of this life at 3:16 a.m. (John), just two days after her 81st Birthday Celebration. She is preceded in death by her parents; one son: Warren Stewart; three sisters: Alice Black, Faye Brown and Bobbie Jean McAllister; two brothers: John Albert Owens and Alton Owens; special friends: Mother Mary Williams and her neighbor for 23 years – Mother Gertrude Cunningham (they shared an “open door” policy with their families because of the love of God that resided within them); and last but not least: Mother Josephine Brazelton who adopted Mother Evans as her daughter when she came to South Haven. Mother Mary Della Evans leaves to cherish her memory and carry forward her legacy: Four sons: Rickey Elvis Owens, Elder Jackie Darryl (Tina) Sistrunk, Keith Lloyd Owens, and Dyke Wayne Stewart all of South Haven, MI; Three sisters: Easter Palmer of Overland Park KS; Edna Mae Owens and Clara Dean Dickens of Tulsa OK; Twenty three grandchildren, and Sixteen great grandchildren; Special nieces: Marilyn Heard, Elizabeth Owens and Bishop Dorothy Sherrod; Special sons: Deacon Leon Cunningham, Joey Gamble and Jimmie Hudson; Special daughters: LaVerne (Candy) Askew, Latrica Johnson, Mother Christine Simpson and Sylvia Taylor; Special sister: Mother Evelyn Bettis; Special friends: Mother Leona Rice and Mother Shirley Wilkins; Godson: Patrick Mackenzie; Goddaughters: Patricia Brazelton, Rachel Booker, Racquelle Cunningham, Gershelle Cunningham, Kim Ferguson and Rachel Mahone; and her special birthday girl: Lillie Ruth Simpson.
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