Willie Mae Evans

Willie Mae Evans (nee Ridgeway) was born on March 20, 1924, in Butler, Alabama, to the late Susie Ridgeway Gaines and Noah Ridgeway. She returned to the arms of our Heavenly Father on April 20, 2024.

Willie Mae was raised in a family of love and as the oldest grandchild, assisted raising her younger cousins Anne, Luther, Jake, and JM. She fondly recalled the role her grandparents, George, and Roxey Ridgeway, played in her life, which was later exemplified in the relationships she had with her own grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was very fond and protective of her only sibling, George D. Gaines. On October 1, 1949, she married Alexander Evans Sr. and began raising a family of her own. By the end of 1955, Alex and Willie Mae relocated to Cincinnati with four small children. Once in Cincinnati, the family continued to grow with the birth of more children.

Willie Mae took her role as a mother very serious. Even in such a large family, every child had her attention and focus as she provided a firm hand to train and correct and a soft heart to nurture and develop. She instilled in her children the importance of family and staying connected to one another. More importantly, she taught them the reverence of God and the importance of going to church. It was that desire to model her belief in the importance of God and at the urging of family friend, Janet Anderson, that she and her family joined the Greater Liberty Missionary Baptist Church on October 19, 1958. She was a very active and engaged member and participated in a variety of ministries at Greater Liberty. She was a member of the Bells of Liberty Gospel Chorus. She was a member of the Bettie Cocrel Missionary Society, which later became the Missionary Ministry, the kitchen committee, Matthew 28 outreach ministry, and a co-founder of the Bathe it in Prayer ministry. She frequented Wednesday night prayer meeting and often spent time reading her bible before bed. She served faithfully until her health did not allow her to participate.

Willie Mae retired from Dorman Products in 1989, but her true passion was being an entrepreneur. She loved going to yard sales, hosting yard sales, and selling dinners out of her home. She even assisted Reverend Jerome M. Lewis Sr. when he opened a fruit and vegetable stand in Madisonville. Subsequently, she opened a store in Silverton selling a variety of products but specializing in church hats.

Willie Mae was an amazing cook. She could turn the simplest dishes into masterpieces. Her sweet potato pies, peach cobbler, greens, chili, pound cakes, fried corn, homemade ice cream, tea cakes, and fried chicken, among others, made every family gathering a monumental occasion with delicious food that spoiled her family’s palate. However, it was this love of cooking that allowed her to serve so many people. She often said, I may not have much, but I can always feed someone. She fed so many, often providing lunch to members of the church and the community when they were sick or could not cook for themselves.                                        

Family was so important to Willie Mae. She hosted many family members that moved to Cincinnati from Alabama. She always felt that it was her mission to help whoever and however she could. She truly embodied a servant’s heart and actively sought opportunities to support others. More importantly, she led by example and carried herself with humility. She never liked to receive recognition for what she did. However, she delighted in others receiving recognition and attention. She celebrated every special occasion in the lives of her family. From graduations and weddings to the addition of new family members and holiday celebrations, she was always there for her family. We are forever grateful that God chose Willie Mae Evans to be our matriarch. She loved unconditionally and served faithfully.                                    

She was proceeded in death by her husband Alexander Evans Sr., her parents, stepfather Calip Gaines, daughter Lillie Ruth, son Donald and his wife Lori, granddaughter Kiana McGee, her beloved brother George and his wife Pearlie Mae, and special cousins Anne Beckum, Jake Johnson, and JM Johnson.

She leaves to cherish her life her daughters Bonnie (Earl Sr.) Jones, Gladys Evans-Maxberry, Doris (Charles) Hickman, and Debra Ann Evans; sons Alexander Jr. (Cynetta) and Silas (Deborah); grandchildren Carmen, Tracy, Alex, Cory, Tanica, Demar, Alexis, Beth, Earl Jr., Johnny, Eddie, Alexandria, Dana, Jennifer, Stephanie, Loren, Allen, and
Sarah; 22 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren; cousin Luther Ridgeway of Philadelphia, PA; cousin and close friend Mabel Tyson, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. While our hearts wanted her to stay longer, we rejoice in the fact that we got to witness her celebrate 100 years of a life dedicated to family, service, ministry, and most importantly God.

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