Lucy Lee Evans

Lucy Lee Gentry was born February 20, 1920 in Tutwiler, MS to the late Harvey and Savannah Peterson Gentry.  Lucy was the youngest of seven siblings.  She became a Christian at an early age and was baptized and became a member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist of Tutwiler, MS.

Lucy relocated to Portland, Oregon where she met and subsequently married Arbord Evans whom after 57 years of a happy marriage preceded her in death in 2001.  Both were faithful members of Mount Olivet Baptist Church of Portland and was pastored by Reverend John H. Jackson and Dr. James E. and Sister Lynetta Martin.  Lucy served faithfully in many church auxiliaries throughout her life.

Lucy lived according to the Word of God and loved God with all her heart.  In turn, she loved her neighbor as herself.  She cared deeply for her friends and family.  Although she had no biological children, she was a mother to many.  She was affectionately known as Aunt Lucy, Ms. Lucy, Mother Evans, Mrs. Evans, Lucy, Mom, Grandma Lucy and Great Grandma Evans.  Her love was unconditional and she made you feel like you were very special.  Her love and wit touched the young and the old alike.

Her hobbies were quilting, canning, gardening and cooking.  She was an excellent cook and avid canner of fruit and vegetables.  She would often give away jars of these canned fruits and vegetables as gifts.  If you were blessed to receive this gift you knew it was made and given with love.  She also had a reputation of being one of the best quilters around.

Lucy was promoted to heaven on June 1, 2020.  She would often say “I know that God is going to take me away when He wants to.  All my days are in His hands.”  Thus, one of her favorite scriptures was 2 Timothy 4:7-8: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

She is preceded in death by husband Arbord Evans; her father and mother Harvey and Savannah Peterson Gentry; brothers Roosevelt Gentry (Roseanne), Rev. Early Gentry (Channing), Rev. Matthew Gentry (Mary), Rev Harvey Gentry Jr. (Mary); sisters Arleather Brown (Lee), Luella Williams (Alonza Sr.).

She is survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and the many who knew her.  She will be missed by us all.  If she could speak to us now, she would say: “I’m fine…I’m fine…you need to get some rest so don’t worry about me.”