Mary Ellen Evans

Mary Ellen Hazel Evans was born on March 18, 1934, in Barnwell, South Carolina to the late Quincy Hazel and Louise Baxley Hazel Patterson.

Mary attended Barnwell Elementary School and graduated from Bulter High School. After graduating from high school, she matriculated to and graduated from Blackwell Business School in Washington, D.C.

Mary married the late Samuel Lee Evans, Sr. March 3, 1953. To this union they had one son, Samuel Lee Evans, Jr. Later she was blessed with another son, Barry Free.

Mary was a dietician at Shaw Hotel, DC Village and lastly Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital where she worked for 35 years until she retired in 1995.

While living in Washington, D.C., she was a member of Matthews Memorial Baptist Church. After moving to Florida, she joined Hurst Chapel A.M.E. Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Sharon Hobbs.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister, Susan Hazel. She will be lovingly remembered and cherished by her two sons, Samuel Evans (Wilda) and Barry Free both of Washington, D.C., 14 siblings; Gonza Lee Hazel (Retha) of Sacramento, California, Willie Lee Hazel (Kim) of Alexandria, Virginia, Martha Hazel of Riviera Beach, FL, Woodrow Hazel of Melbourne, Florida, Beolia Doctor of Columbia, South Carolina, Betty Jean Stringer of Riviera Beach, Florida, James Patterson, Jr. (Pamela) of Royal Palm Beach, Florida,, Talmadge Patterson of Riviera Beach, Florida, Hermond Lee Patterson of Charlotte, North Carolina., Emanuel Patterson (Christine) of West Palm Beach, Florida., Felicia Patterson Howard (Frank) of Palm Bay, Florida, Ceolia Patterson Waiters (Ray) of Health Springs, South Carolina, Evangeline Patterson Julius (Oscar) of West Palm Beach, Florida, Roosevelt Owens Patterson of Barnwell, South Carolina. She will also be missed by her 6 grandchildren; Latrina Shelonne Crosland, Samuel Ellis Evans, III, Derrick Robinson, Danielle Davis, Nicole Boom, Brigette L. Free, Ashley J. Richardson and Angel Harmon, 16 great grandchildren; Godson, Keith Greene, and a host of other relatives and friends

A Visitation will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025 from 10:00am-11:00am at Hurst Chapel A. M.E. Church, 1617 Silver Beach Road, Riviera Beach, Florida 33404. A Celebration of Life will follow at 11:00am at the same location. A Committal Service will be held at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens, 5601 Greenwood Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407. Log on to royalpalmfuneralhome.com to share memories and leave condolences. Services are entrusted to Royal Palm Funeral Home.