Mrs. Evelyn Louise Blanton Washington

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 10, 2011, at Bellevue Baptist Church with Bro. Philip Elliott officiating. A graveside service will follow at Forrest Cemetery.

Evelyn Louise was the matriarch of her family - a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister. A native of Heflin, she lived most of her life in Gadsden. Evelyn Louise was a lipstick-red pistol whose laugh could be heard from miles away.

Evelyn Louise was preceded in death by her parents, Willis Lee and Vera Inez Blanton; and her beloved siblings, Dot Pitts, Betty Myers and James Willis.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Lee Washington; her children, Susan McGuire (Jim), Robert Washington Jr. (Pam), Sharon Paul (Sonny), and John Washington; three grandchildren, Bo, Justin and Courtney; as well as nine sisters and two brothers.

Pallbearers will be Roy Blanton, Ronnie Blanton, Jim McGuire, Sonny Paul, Bo McGuire and Justin Washington.

Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny McBurnett, Wilburn Hunkapillar, Burlon Watts and Garnett Jackson.

The family will receive friends at Collier-Butler Funeral Home from 6 to 8 this evening and at Bellevue Baptist from 1 p.m. until the hour of service.

The family also wishes to express its deep gratitude to Mrs. Washington's cardiologists, Dr. McGwier and Dr. Szeto, as well as the nurses and staff of Gadsden Regional Medical Center's SICU.