Evelyn Irene Kennedy

On September 27, 1920, in Pittsboro, NC, God blessed Isaac and Maude Scurlock Moore with a baby girl. They named her Evelyn Irene Moore.

Her father died when she was 4 years old. At 12 years of age, Evelyn lost her mother and went to live with her grandmother, Amy Scurlock. She lived with her until she died when Evelyn was 16. She then went to live with her aunt, Mrs. Connie Young or “Aunt Connie,” as she became known. She lived with “Aunt Connie” until she married David Leroy Kennedy.

Evelyn or as I lovingly refer to her, Mama K, often recalled how she would go to the creek not too far from their comfortable home to fetch water. This was the home built by her father, Isaac Moore. As a matter of fact the house was still standing in 1997; when it was torn down to make way for a new community being raised in that area.

There were other memories she would recall, such as travelling through the woods to attend school. She would also share how, as part of her chores, she would pick cotton, shuck corn and cut the string beans.

In 1938 she married David Leroy Kennedy and they later moved to New York City, with their children, Shirley Francine, David Leroy, Jr., and Patricia Ann. They resided in their home at 64 West 98th Street when their 4th child, Barbra Louetta, was born. In 1954 the family moved to 555 Franklin Delano Roosevelt(FDR) Drive due to urban renewal. It was here that William Anthony was born in 1956. Later the family moved to 110 Baruch Drive in the same Public Housing Development. In 1962 Robert was born.

Mama K resided there until April 2013, when it became necessary to move her to the home of her daughter Shirley Francine in Memphis, TN.

Previous to this move, Mama K’s health was failing and her Granddaughters, Gloria and Crystal, were caring for her. However, in January of 2012, Mama K suffered a stroke which left her partially paralyzed on her left side. She was placed in a nursing home in New York for rehabilitation, to which she was not responding. She was being released with the understanding that she needed constant care. This level of care was beyond that of Crystal’s and Gloria’s capabilities and therefore Mama K was brought to the home of her daughter, Francine, (as she became known to the family) in Memphis, TN.

When hurricane Sandy hit New York City, electricity and water was interrupted in the housing development. Mama K’s daughter, Patricia Ann, her granddaughter Tiffany and her son-in-law Joe brought her to their home in Virginia until it was prudent to return to 110 Baruch Drive.

There she remained until the move to Memphis.

As you may perceive, this was a travelling lady.

During her well and active years, immediately following her retirement, Mama K would accompany her son William to concerts and weekend trips to the Poconos.

She even traveled to Utah to be part of a camping trip with her daughters Francine and Patricia, her two grandsons, Jeff and Maurice and their driver and guide, her son-in-law, Joe. (the other Joe.)

Once she began therapy and with the care provided by Francine, Mama K was able to transport herself from bed to wheel chair and back again. She was able to walk a short distance using the walker.

When Francine was scheduled to have corrective knee surgery, Mama K was placed in a rehab facility. The surgery was cancelled and she was returned to the home.

Francine’s surgery was rescheduled and Mama K was placed in an Assisted Living facility. After about two or three weeks at this facility she fell and broke her hip.

Surgery was performed and she was then placed in the Quince Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Things were going well until her movements caused the hip to be out of joint. She was taken back to the hospital and the doctors were able to make the necessary adjustments without any further surgery.

She was returned to Quince where she would receive three types of therapy, occupational, physical, and speech therapy. However, she was not responding to the therapies and was transferred to long term care in the same facility.

She is survived by her daughters, Shirley Francine Sanders, Patricia Ann Pettigrew, sons David Leroy Kennedy, Jr., William Anthony Kennedy, Robert Thomas Kennedy. She was preceded in death by her daughter Barbara Louetta Davis and her husband, David Leroy Kennedy, Sr. She leaves behind a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren in addition to a host of friends who loved and adored her.

She served as a para-professional teacher’s helper providing assistance in Kindergarten, which led her to go back to school, get her degree and teacher’s license. She taught at the elementary school in her neighborhood, PS 97, where she once volunteered her services.

She was an active member of the Dewitt Reformed Church in New York City where she taught Sunday school.

While residing with her daughter and son-in-law, she attended church with them in Olive Branch, MS, West Helena and Forrest City, AR., where she won the hearts of the members.

She had a strong, deep and emotional love for all of her children, grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren. However, it is humorous that she began referring to her eldest grandson, Joseph, as “the tall man” after his visit with her at the Applingwood Rehab Center. From that visit on she only referred to him as Tall Man.

She loved music. You could often hear her singing “Way down Yonder By myself and I couldn’t hear nobody pray.” There were a couple of songs she truly enjoyed hearing over and over again, “Have you seen her? By the Chilites, this was a throwback to the concerts she attended with William. She liked to hear “How Great Thou Art, with Vince Gil and Carrie Underwood and her all-time favorite was “I Believe I can Fly sung by Dottie Peeples. One of the nurses at the assisted living facility, upon learning how much she liked that piece, set her iPad to play it repeatedly and left it in Mama K’s room.

She was loved by the staff at each facility. As a matter of fact, one of the therapists wanted to know if she could take Mama K home with her. One of the CNA’s assigned to attend to her, broke out in tears because Mama K reminded her so much of her Grandmother.

She was loved and she deeply loved. She will be missed, but we have very fond and loving memories to cherish which will keep her in our hearts. Her legacy to us is a legacy of love. We will honor her memory when we display love and support for each other as she did.