Lemuel “Lem” Alfonso Evans, Ph.D., educator, scientist, scholar, and daily philosopher, often described himself as just a country boy. He would often sing this refrain from Sam Cooke’s version of “I’m Just a Country Boy.” But within these lyrics, we find the core of Lemuel Evans.
Lemuel Evans was born to Frank Evans, and Carrie Gertrude Whitfield Evans on February 13, 1936, in New Bern, NC. His brother, Henry Taft Evans, was born in 1947. His mother was a domestic and missionary, and his father was a farmer. Lemuel grew up in difficult circumstances, poor and under the oppression of Jim Crow. Young Lemuel found solace in the woods and creeks around his home. Fishing, studying nature, and allowing the trees and animals to reveal the beauty of the world to his spirit. It was there that he found his “silver and gold” and his fascination with biology. His parents encouraged his education, allowing him to attend school, even when other young men were pulled out to farm, and financing his college education.
That fascination would take him to North Carolina Central University at the age of 15. He studied, worked in the kitchens at Duke University, and played football for the Eagles, graduating in 1956. He also served in the U.S. Army at Fort Dix for 3 months. Throughout his adolescence and young adulthood, he also found his treasure in the homes of his maternal aunts, Dessie Belle Smith, and Arnettie Smith. His village of aunts, uncles, and cousins, exposed him to the world, nurtured his spirit, and supported his aspirations.
In 1960, Lemuel married Jeretha Louise Johnson, a registered nurse, and became parents to Tamara Michelle in 1963 (d. 2015) and Sabrina Dawn in 1969.
Throughout the 1960s, Lemuel taught middle school and high school biology in New York City schools, including, Sands Junior High School and Midwood High School in Brooklyn. These formative experiences helped Lemuel merge his passion for science, racial justice, and education. He eventually took that passion to the newly formed Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York. Medgar Evers College was the first historically black college created in New York City. Lemuel would teach and lead at Medgar for 13 years , eventually serving as the Chair of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics department. In 1976, after earning his Master of Science from Northern Arizona University, and with the support of his wife Jeretha (who painstakingly typed every page of his dissertation), he earned his Ph.D.in Biology and Cytogenetics from Fordham University.
Lemuel’s academic and professional pursuits gave his family the time to travel around the country, visiting over 20 states. Even amid this very busy academic and professional schedule, he still found time to reconstruct cars, go fishing with his brother Taft and cousin Lester, play tennis, and regularly serve men half his age at the basketball courts at Wingate Park in Brooklyn.
In 1982 he was chosen as the Principal Investigator of the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Three years later, he began an illustrious career as a Health Scientist Administrator for NIH and the National Cancer Institute. He spent the next 11 years challenging and reducing the disparities in minority cancer research, and providing grants to worthwhile programs throughout the United States. He also expanded his community and civic commitments, founding a young black male mentorship program at the J.O. Wilson Elementary school in Northeast DC; joining Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; serving as Board Chair of the Marine Environmental Research Institute, and starting an educational services non-profit. In 1990, he also documented the genealogy of his family, the descendants of General Taft Whitfield and Eva Blount.
Lemuel retired in 1996 and moved to Las Vegas, NV to live closer to his oldest daughter Tamara Michelle White, and his grandsons, Ivan, Jarrett, and eventually, Onajee. Although his 40-year marriage to Jeretha would end during his retirement, they continued to co-parent, indulge their 5 grandchildren and great-grandchild, and support each other as friends.
Lemuel always said that he had no desire to simply retire from his job, but to retire to something worthwhile. And he did. At the age of 62, he earned his first black belt in Tae Kwon Do. His passion for the martial arts would lead him to teach again, this time as a Tae Kwon Do instructor at the Team Matthews Family Martial Arts Dojo in Las Vegas, NV. He would also continue to achieve in Tae Kwon Do, eventually earning a 3rd-degree black belt, and becoming the State Nevada Champion in his age division.
Lemuel also continued his work in the public health field, serving as a consultant and grant reviewer for NIH and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. Locally, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Nevada Area Health Education Center. He initiated health-related activities focused on medically underserved populations. After his heart surgery, he served on the Patient Advisory Board to Dignity Hospitals.
He was a generous giver of time, talent, and resources. He tutored his granddaughter-in-law, Angela in math, and helped his grandson Onajee, succeed in organic chemistry. While his daughter Tamara was living, he often served as a guest lecturer in the college classes she taught. He supported the learning and growth of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they reciprocated by caring for him when he was ill, exorcising his technology demons, and helping him with chores and tasks.
He was also very generous outside of his family. He felt strongly that money was important, but only to enrich the lives of others. Through his generosity, often anonymously, needs would be met, opportunities and scholarships granted, and dreams came true.
Lem also found time to love. Later in life, he developed a loving and committed relationship with a longtime professional colleague and friend, Patricia Downing. They shared a love of health sciences and a commitment to addressing minority health disparities. In Pat, he found a life partner, spiritual companion, and devoted love. They traveled around the globe, including Panama, Hawaii, and throughout the states. But they reserved a special place in their hearts for Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard. Every September for over 10 years, would find them fishing daily, exploring the island, cooking up their catch, entertaining friends, and family, and enjoying one another. When Lemuel’s health began to wane, Pat devoted her life and (sometimes her sanity!) to taking care of his health and comfort.
Lemuel suffered from heart disease for over 10 years. After many treatments and procedures, in 2021 he was diagnosed with Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM.) ATTR-CM is a serious, underrecognized, and underdiagnosed type of amyloidosis that affects the heart and is associated with heart failure (learn about it at www.yourheartsmessage.com). Ever the public health advocate, Lemuel began a personal campaign to increase awareness of this heart condition, which affects African-Americans disproportionately. He enthusiastically participated in research studies, drug trials, and treatment options, knowing that too often, blacks are not included as part of health research. He surpassed the longevity expectations of all of his doctors and nurses, only succumbing after a bout of COVID-19 tipped the scales. He passed away on June 25, 2022.
Lemuel Evans was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Tamara White. He is survived by his daughter, Sabrina Evans-Ellis (John); his life partner and love, Patricia Downing; his brother, Henry Taft Evans (Annie); his son-in-law Willard White (Tami); his grandchildren: Ivan Michael Evans Reid (Angela), Jarrett Ian Charles Reid, Onajee White, Camille Amanda Ellis, Claire Elise Ellis, and his great-grandson Isaiah Reid. Also sharing in the loss are his former wife and friend, Jeretha L. Evans; Patricia’s children, Michael Greene and Lisa Greene; his Aunt, Arnettie Smith; his first cousins, Taft Whitfield, Lucy Salvador, Patricia Whitfield, and Cynthia Whitfield; and a host of family and friends.
We will miss Lem’s deep, philosophical discussions; his curiosity and love of learning; the mischievous glint in his eye and wicked sense of humor; his love of sports and fierce sports competitiveness; his enthusiasm for life; his love for his natural, chosen, and human family; and his inspirational guidance and insights. Found among his papers was a speech he gave on empowerment—still teaching us all, even unto the end:
Affirm your truth…Clear your mind of limiting thoughts and beliefs, and act as if you are already where you want to be. Reframe your past—be willing to forgive and release the past. Nothing can ultimately confine or limit you…You are the center of an infinite mind—one with a creative power for good in the universe. You are free to make use of this power in any way that you desire. Whatever you desire to experience awaits your use of the creative freedom within you. Activate it by declaring [from William Henley] “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul!”
The Fisherman’s Prayer
I pray that I may. Live to fish
Until my dying day. And when it comes
To my last cast, I then most humbly pray
When in the Lord’s Great landing net
And peacefully asleep. That in his mercy
I be judged
BIG ENOUGH TO KEEP
A celebration of life for Lemuel will be held Tuesday, July 5, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Palm Cheyenne Mortuary, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89129, followed by a reception in Palm Cheyenne Mortuary Hospitality Room from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmcheyenne.com for the Evans family.
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