Cornelia "Connie" R. Evans

Naomi Cornelia Ray Evans, daughter of the late Henry Patrick Ray and Eleanor Dunn Ray was born on November 16, 1916 in North Carolina. In 1928, at the age of 12, she relocated with her parents, five brothers and two sisters to White Plains, New York, where she attended public schools, graduated from While Plains High School, and thereafter graduated from the Manhattan Medical Assistant School.

With a desire to help provide healthcare services in her community, she later became a registered practical nurse, certified X-Ray technician and registered medical secretary. Her career included positions with several prominent Black physicians in White Plains, including Dr. Arthur Williams, Dr. Leonard Williams and Dr. Oscar N. Graves. Prior to her retirement, she worked for a chiropractor, Dr. Richard Jasper.

Fondly called Connie or Nelie by family and friends, Connie was a long-serving member of Bethel Baptist Church, White Plains, where she worked as the Church Historian for 25 years, was a member of the Chancel Choir, the Missionary Ministry and the Senior Ministry. Continually active in community service and philanthropic endeavors, Connie was a charter member of the White Plains/Greenburgh NAACP where, in its early years, she served as the branch’s secretary working with then president, Dr. Errold D. Collymore and branch founder, Dr. Arthur N. Williams.

A leader in multiple Prince Hall Masonic orders, she served as Past Worthy Matron of Bright Hope Chapter No. 46, Order of Eastern Stars, Prince Hall Affiliated, New York State; was Past Illustrious Commandress of the Daughters of Isis, Elejmal Court 171; Past Imperial Deputy of the Oasis of Ossining, Past Royal Commandress of Magdalene Court #12, Order of Cyrene; and Past Royal Lady Ruler of Pentecost Assembly #86, Order of the Golden Circle.

She also was an active supporter of varied charitable and service organizations, including The American Cancer Society, Camp Eureka for children, the NAACP, and local students school events, music programs and other academic projects. In 2010, New York state senators Andrea Stewart Cousins and Suzi Oppenheimer recognized her good works with official certificates of achievement.

An avid golfer, Connie competed in multiple tournaments across the US, Mexico and Puerto Rico, garnering a collection of trophies, plaques and other memorabilia. She loved house plants, especially orchids. Known for her sharp wit, Connie always maintained her feisty attitude, which kept everyone on their toes!

Connie married James D. Evans, a life-long resident of White Plains on August 30, 1958, enjoying 56 years of marriage before his passing in 2015. James, an established and award-winning graphic artist, designed and created the artwork, “ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM,” displayed in the main sanctuary of White Plains Bethel Baptist Church.

In addition to her husband, James, she is predeceased by her parents, brothers (the Rays), George, John, Mark, and Jehovah; sisters, Annie Ray and Katherine Ray Kelley; and a niece, Audrey Ray Bell.

She is survived and will be missed by her great nephew, Irving D. Bell (Karen), great-great nephew, Jason E. Bell (Elisa) and their children; her goddaughter, Shelly Gaines, along with her siblings for whom Connie and James served as parents. Also, by her loyal friends, Mrs. Sylvia Latimer and Ms. Jonette Mines who provided fellowship, prayers and countless acts of kindness, as well as her church family, and a host of extended family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the White Plains/Greenburgh NAACP in memory of Mrs. Cornelia R. Evans.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ATTENTION: During the continuing COVID & various health concerns, as we phase back into smaller capacity public visitations/services, we need your help in limiting/controlling the number of people, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!

A Wake/Visitation will be held on Thursday September 12th 2024, from 11:00AM-12:00PM at Bethel Baptist Church, followed by Funeral Service at 12:00PM. So you may come to the Church to try to attend, & feel free to wear masks. At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen). If not at capacity, you will be allowed in to have a seat; but if at capacity by the time you get there, you may be required to leave the premises after signing register book, so as not to be in violation nor cause a health hazard, so please govern yourself accordingly. Regardless of if you're able to enter/be seated, or not, please refrain from too much touching/hugging/handshaking, preferably elbow bumping briefly if at all. If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if the church is at their capacity. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or church or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or church, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that Cornelia Evans & family entrusted her care & the care of their loved one to us, and that she & they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Family of Cornelia Evans during their time of bereavement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please feel free to come to the church & cemetery wearing a mask, & feel free to wear a mask inside the church, and social distance as much as possible. If you know you have a coronavirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronavirus/COVID-19; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, please do NOT attend any services nor come to either facility. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the rules of the church & cemetery, and directions of the funeral home staff, church and/or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & any policies, so as to make all go smoothly the days of the services & burial, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the church and/or funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In lieu of flowers, and as a lasting tribute & since the cemetery limits the number of flowers we may bring, the family appreciates/prefers a contribution be made in her name/memory/honor to: White Plains/Greenburgh NAACP, P.O. Box 8286, White Plains, NY 10602, or at www.wpgbnaacporg.wordpress.com. As a lasting tribute you may choose to plant a tree also, and/or a contribution may be made in her name/memory/honor as previously stated. If sending flowers despite the family wishes/preference, sending small plants or vases is preferable & may be delivered either on Wednesday, September 11th, 2024 by/before 6:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home, or on Thursday September 12th by/before 10:30AM to Bethel Baptist Church. The Family Thanks You!