Willie Frank Evans Sr.

Bob Evans and the late Perline (Smith) Evans in Blakely, Georgia. His

mother was of Cherokee descent. Perline went home to be with the Lord

when Willie was at the age of 5. When his father remarried, he was blessed

to be raised by his step-mother, Rose (Livingston) Evans. He attended

school in Early County, and was an outstanding athlete as a member of the

basketball and track teams at Washington High School.

Although never graduating high school, Willie instead enlisted into the

military where he served on the front-line in transportation services during

the Korean War. After an honorable discharge from the United States

Army, he returned to Blakely, Georgia to claim his one and only true love

Norean (Hodge) Evans. They were married on June 26, 1954 and in true

Boise fashion, the two moved to Cleveland, Ohio the very next day. Blazing

the path of a 67 plus year marriage, this union was blessed with 3 children,

Renee’, Shanavorn, and Willie Jr.

Willie had a very strong work ethic like his dad, Bob Evans. He started

off working for a car dealership during the day, while attending Mechanics

school at night. He also attended the Police Academy and became a Private

Police Officer. Not one to limit himself to just working for other people he

purchased his own backhoe Ford machine with a trailer and began working

construction. It was then he established his own trucking company, Evans

and Son Trucking and Trenching. This company became well known as one

of the best in the Cleveland area which helped pave the way for the next

step in his entrepreneurial journey. He would purchase his own 18-wheeler

rig and began his career as a long-distance truck driver. Whether for work

or with his family, he loved traveling the road. There was no location that

he couldn’t tell you the best route to take and how long it should take you

to arrive. He could even give you the specifics of what mile markers look

out for and best rest stops for you to use on the way to your destination. He

ended his career logging over 3 million miles on the road.

He confessed his love for Christ at an early age. The first church he and

Norean attended when arriving in Cleveland, was Mr. Nebo Baptist Church.

They later joined The Devine Revelation Church of God and Christ. He

was the president of the choir and he sang and played his tambourine. The

choir accompanied him singing his favorite song of praise, “Deep Down In

My Heart, I Got the Love of Jesus”. He moved his church membership to

Second Tabernacle Baptist where he attended until the end of his life. He

was the chairman of the Deacon Board a member of the Trustee Board and

a member of the Men’s choir.

On April 15, 2016 Willie was driving his semi-truck as usual. At the end of

the day, he arrived home, showered, had dinner and retired for the evening.

He experienced a stroke in sleep. The blessing of the timing of the stroke,

is that he was driving his semi-truck only 12 hours before and it could have

happened then. He recovered from his stroke with prayers of the righteous

and rehabilitation. His family reminded him that the Lord was getting his

attention to let him know to slow down and enjoy life. He continued to

do just that and was blessed to spend the last days of his life surrounded by

his family. He was truly an amazing man who left the world with a strong

legacy that continues to shine through all those whose lives he touched.

He was proceeded in death by his father, Bob Evans Jr., mother, Perline

Smith Evans, step-mother, Rose Evans, brother, R. Roenokee Evans, sister,

Thelma (Evans) Hutchins, and son Willie Frank Evans Jr.

He leaves to cherish his memory, Wife Norean Evans, Children, Renee V.

Evans (Eli Schoby), Shanavorn Butler (Rodney), Grandchildren, Leshonte’

Mills (Lamar Gordon), Larry D. Curry Jr. (Naima), Monique Jurnakins,

William C. Mills III (Christie Memmer), Louis Shavez Gentry (Corrie),

Evan Curry (Sharon), Willie F. Evans III (Maria), James Evans, Melody

Mills, and Mykal Mills (Rachel Roberts), several Great-Grandchildren, and

a host of family and friends.