Annette Evans Gaston

Annette was born December 31, 1927, to Dr. Dwight Lyman Evans and Letha Adams Evans, in Anniston, Alabama.  She was graduated from Anniston High School in 1945 and the University of Alabama in 1949 where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, which she continued to support down through the years.  Following her graduation from the University, Annette moved to Sylacauga, Alabama, where she was employed in the fabric design department of Avondale Mills and met Ware Gaston, a young pharmacist and business owner.  They were married July 2, 1951, and he soon thereafter went to Korea as an officer in the United States Army Medical Service Corps.  Following his return, Annette and Ware became the parents of three sons, Charles W. Gaston, III; Joel M. Gaston; and Maury D. Gaston.

Annette is predeceased by her parents; her husband; and her three siblings, Dwight L. Evans, Jr.; Harriett Evans Ford; and M. Willard Evans.  She is survived by her sons, Charles (Donna Watkins Gaston); Joel (Jan Fowler Gaston);and Maury (Nancy Runyan Gaston); her granddaughters, Mary Frances Gaston and Alison Elizabeth Gaston; her grandsons, Kevin M. Gaston (Abbie Erhardt Gaston); and Kyle A. Gaston; and her great-grandson, Carson Ware Gaston.

Annette was a leader in her family, in her community, and in her church.  She served her husband and her sons with love and skill.  It was said of her, “She loved her husband, her sons, and the people and things they loved.”  Annette held too many leadership roles at First United Methodist Church to name them all.  In the community of Sylacauga, she operated Sylacauga Welcome Service for many years, visiting with newcomers to the community in a period of time when many moved to town from far away.  In this role, she was to multiple hundreds of homemakers and families the first impression of a welcoming and inviting community and mentored many wives and mothers through that role.

Annette’s Christian faith gives her family and friends great comfort at this time.

As an example of her wisdom, Annette decided several years ago to move from her home of Sylacauga where she remained active and engaged in the community to Brookdale Retirement Living in Birmingham, near two sons, a grandson, and both granddaughters.  As Annette said, “I want to move here when I can walk in and not be carried in.”  There she also became a welcoming resident to newcomers and enjoyed her many new friends sharing her stage of life, even as friends from Sylacauga helped her continue to be engaged in the community there.

Services are under the direction of Radney-Smith Funeral home of Sylacauga, 256-245-1616.  Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 14, followed by the funeral service, both at First United Methodist Church; 105 East Spring Street; Sylacauga, Alabama; 35150; 256-249-0362; with interment in Evergreen Cemetery.  Officiants are Reverends James Haskins and Robert Gunn.  Pallbearers include grandsons Kevin Gaston and Kyle Gaston; Jim Green; Sam Wright, Jr.; Joe Allen; Ken Sims, Ronnie Craddock, and Greg Tubbs.

Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneysmith.com.