March 23, 1922 – January 13, 2020
Harriette was born on March 23, 1922 along with a twin brother, Harold, in Akron Ohio to Sallie Fisher and Harold Clark.
She married the love of her life, the Rev. Dr. Joseph H. Evans in October of 1944 who preceded her in death in April 2008. They were married for 64 years.
Harriette attended Dunbar High School in Washington D.C. and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin. She was a classically trained Ballet dancer and was the first Chairman of the Washington Children’s Theater in Washington DC in 1939. She went on to join the American Ballet Company in New York City.
She along with her husband, a pastor in the Congregational – United Church of Christ, devoted her life to ministering and mentoring the many members of their congregations and the communities in which they lived. She opened her own ballet studio in 1952 in Chicago Illinois and taught numerous young girls the joys and grace of ballet. She was also the coordinator for several Link’s Cotillions as the young women were presented to society.
Harriette and her family lived in Chicago, IL before moving to St. Albans NY, Brookline, MA and Sarasota, FL where they spent their retirement years. Martha’s Vineyard was always her second home. Since 1952, she spent each summer in Oak Bluffs, MA and in 1955 she became a founding member of The Cottagers, Inc., a historic non-profit organization of African-American women homeowners on Martha’s Vineyard.
She is survived by her three daughters Lesley Christian, Harriette Smith and Barbara Edelin, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren as well as a host of other family members and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at First Congregational Church UCC-Sarasota 1031 S. Euclid Avenue, Sarasota, Florida 34237 in the church sanctuary followed by a scattering of Harriette's cremated remains in the church memorial garden. Reception immediately after in the church chapel-all are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in the name of Harriette Evans to First Congregational UCC-Sarasota.
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