Jeretha Louise Evans

Jeretha Louise Evans was born on September 3rd, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Louise Crowder Johnson and Jonathan Johnson. She was the third of four children and the only girl. Jeretha was raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, with her extended family. In 1948, her cousins Cleo and Burner Walker came to live with the Johnsons after the death of their mother, Maude Crowder Walker. In Cleo, she found the sister she longed for.

Her parents’ home was often the first stop on the “Great Migration” as her southern relatives traveled from North Carolina to New York to find work. She often joked that “everybody” lived with us at some point. But it instilled in her a love of and commitment to family that would guide her life.

After attending local elementary and middle schools, Jeretha enrolled at Clara Barton High School for Health Professions. There, she met one of her lifelong friends, Marie Carnevale (Sorenson). Jeretha was an excellent student and was eventually accepted into the Kings County Hospital Center Nursing School. She earned a scholarship from the Sisterhood Club of Concord Baptist Church to help support her education.

At Kings County, Jeretha trained in a rigorous program and was one of a few students of color. She sometimes encountered racism from teachers and students but was undeterred. She and her high school friend Marie befriended Rena (Bloom) Mena and Eva Maldonado (Otero) in nursing school. Jeretha, Rena, Eva, and Marie would remain friends for the rest of their lives.

In 1956, her cousin brought home a college friend, Lemuel Evans—also known as “Pancho.” He met Jeretha, and they soon began dating. In 1960, they were married. In 1963, Jeretha gave birth to a daughter, Tamara Michelle Evans. When Tamara was three months old, the young family participated in the March on Washington and heard Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream address. By this time, Jeretha was employed as a registered nurse at Kings County Hospital, where she would remain for 25 years. In 1969, they welcomed a second daughter, Sabrina Dawn Evans. Lemuel began pursuing advanced degrees that would take the family around the country as he studied part-time at Alfred University, NY, Northern Arizona University in Arizona, and Fordham University.

Jeretha loved to travel. Armed with a AAA map and guide to sites and hotels, she planned road trips from Canada to California. She filled photo albums with pictures of the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, New Mexico, Florida, and dozens of states in between. The family trips often included her mother and nieces Dakeeta Johnson and Kim Marrow. But as much as she loved sightseeing, she also loved road trips to visit family in Enfield, NC, and Washington, DC.

In addition to working, traveling, and raising a family, she continued her education, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1978. She frequented nursing conferences and earned more continuing education credits throughout her nursing career.

At Kings County Hospital, Jeretha moved up the ranks, eventually becoming a head nurse. She was repeatedly invited to become an administrator but declined—she liked working directly with patients. In 1983, she left Kings County when she was offered a head nurse position at Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. She excelled once more at Cumberland, receiving awards for outstanding service and leadership. She remained with Cumberland D &T until she retired in 1997. At the time of her retirement, she worked as a school nurse at the Dr. Susan S. McKinney Secondary School of the Arts. She enjoyed working with the young people, teaching them about health and hygiene and being a supportive listener.

In 1997, Jeretha retired, and she and Lemuel moved to Las Vegas, NV to be closer to their daughter Tami, and their three grandchildren, Ivan Reid III, Jarrett Reid, and Onajee White. Although her marriage to Lemuel would end, they remained co-parents/grandparents and friends until his death in 2022.

For most of her life, Jeretha was a Concord Baptist Church of Christ member, eventually becoming a “Golden Circle” honoree for 50 years of membership. She was a member of the Mother’s Club, and a devoted volunteer for many clubs and ministries over the years. When she moved to Las Vegas, she joined Victory Missionary Baptist Church.

After dedicating much of her life to nursing, in retirement, Jeretha indulged in her other two loves—family and traveling (especially cruising)! She spent many years tending to her family—babysitting her grandson, Onajee; and traveling to NY to care for her mother, Louise Johnson, until her passing in 2018. She loved to host dinners for family and friends. She cooked Thanksgiving dinner every year in New York, and Christmas dinner every year in Las Vegas. Sometimes, she cooked and invited folks over for no reason other than to laugh, have fun, and feed the people she loved.

A cruise aficionado, he sailed on at least 10 ships, visiting ports such as Bermuda, Mexico, Alaska, and Jamaica. She was usually accompanied by her daughters and friends Marie, Eva, and Rena. She also flew in a helicopter in Monaco, walked on the ocean floor in the Bahamas, and enjoyed the shores of Puerto Rico. Her last cruise was in 2023, to Bermuda—she wasn’t feeling well but was determined to make the trip. She toured Bermuda, laughed with her family, ate Japanese Teppanyaki, watched the Price is Right Live, and had a ball!

She was also an active member of a Las Vegas bowling team, line dancing club, and The Helping Hands ministry. Many a morning, you could find her volunteering with the children at her great-grandson’s school. She loved having birthday month lunches with her friends from Las Vegas and playing the slots at local casinos.

Jeretha spent most of the past year as a Brookdale Assisted Living community resident. The residents and staff immediately took to her humor, wit, and enthusiastic spirit. She made many friends, and it became her second home.

Jeretha Evans was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, George and William; her dear cousins, Cleo Fields and Burner Walker; her best friend, Rena Mena; and her beloved daughter, Tamara Evans White. On May 14th, 2024, she passed away peacefully, reuniting with a heavenly host of friends and family. Jeretha is survived by her daughter, Sabrina Evans-Ellis (John), and her brother, Gerald Johnson. Her grandchildren: Ivan Reid (Angela), Jarrett Reid (Chantice), Onajee White (Courtney), Camille Ellis, Claire Ellis; and great-grandchildren Isaiah Reid and Siya Tami Reid. Also sharing in the loss are her son-in-love Will White; her lifelong friends, Eva Maldonado and Marie Sorenson; her friends Mildred Mayfield and Dorothy Ward; and a host of family and friends.

A visitation for Jeretha will be held Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Palm Mortuary - Cheyenne, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89129. A funeral will occur Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89129. A reception will occur Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89129.