Obituaries 08-24-23

EDNA MAE JONES EVANS

April 6, 1925-Aug. 1, 2023

Funeral services for Edna Mae Jones Evans, 98, of Smithdale, were

conducted from Brookhaven Funeral Home with Elder Luke Addison,

Licentiate David Berryhill and Pastor David Martinez officiating.

Graveside services were conducted at Bethel Community Church Cemetery.

Born on April 6, 1925 in Franklin County to Charles R. and Malinda

Touchstone Jones, it was in their happy home that "Punch" learned the

values of faith and family that would sustain her for nearly a century.

She married Boyce Evans in November 1941 and together they raised four

children as they followed the oil field across several states. Although

she worked various jobs, she primarily was a Homemaker who loved to cook

and sew. Her biggest joy was always her family. Her love and generosity

extended to all in her circle of family and friends. She truly never met

a stranger and once she learned your name --- and your birthday --- she

never forgot it.

She was a member of Mount Gilead Primitive Baptist Church.

It is impossible to sum up 98 years of triumphs and tragedies,

challenges and conquests, laughter and tears in a few paragraphs.

Suffice it to say she was a woman with and wit and grit. Throughout her

life, she enjoyed composing poetry and had such a knack for putting

life's experiences to rhyme. Even when age robbed much of her vision,

she would spend hours piecing together rhymes and then recite them for

family and friends.

She was a wonderful storyteller with her most incredible memory. Her

mind remained sharp until the very end. Her favorite events were family

reunions and her phenomenal birthday parties. Her positive attitude,

sunny disposition, sheer determination and quick wit endeared her to all

she met.

She died on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 at her home, surrounded by her loving

family.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sandra Evans Berryhill

and Raymond Alesich of Smithdale; two daughters-in-law, Linda Evans of

Laurel and Betsy Evans Hancock of Mobile, Ala.; a sister, Elaine

Martinez of Baton Rouge, La.; her stepbrother, Larry Cotten of

Meadville; her stepsister, Peggy Johnson of McKinney, Texas; 26

grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren, 60 great-great-grandchildren, two

great-great-great-grandchildren and a host of family and friends who

will deeply mourn her passing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 50 years,

Boyce; her stepfather, Ellzey Jones, and stepmother, Myrtle Cotten

Jones; her sons, Charles A. Evans and Boyce L. "Don" Evans; her

daughter, Betty Evans Ward Rodriguez; two sons-in-law, Clifford

Berryhill and Joseph Rodriguez; three grandchildren, Vicki Ward, Steve

Evans and Tammy Ryder; a great-grandson, Joey Harrington; a

great-great-granddaughter, Bella Rae Titus; three brothers, Charles

"Tony" Jones, John Cecil Jones and Edwards Jones; four sisters, Mildred

Martin, Geneva Thompson, Dorothy Godwin and Joy Martinez; and two

stepbrothers, Arnell Cotten and Gerald Cotten.

Pallbearers were Clint Berryhill, Cody Berryhill, Chris Evans, Caid

Hogan, Jay Hogan, Tyler Salas, Ronnie Jones and Mark Jones. Honorary

pallbearers were the remainder of her grandsons, great-grandsons and

great-great-grandsons.