Emily James Evans

Emily James Evans passed away peacefully with her family near on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at Riverside Hospital.  She was born on the family farm in what was then Elizabeth City County, Virginia on January 23, 1938.  During her childhood, she was an accomplished equestrian rider, attended historic St. John’s Episcopal Church and graduated from Hampton High School in 1956.  In her adult life, she was employed in Civil Service as a Secretary at NASA Langley, Fort Monroe, Fort Eustis and other local government installations.  In 1958, she married the love of her life, Olen S. Evans, Sr. of Poquoson.  She devoted herself to supporting his many endeavors in education and athletics.  Together they enjoyed many decades of making memories with a great many close personal friends. 

After Olen’s passing in 2020, she cherished her friends and staff at The Chesapeake Retirement Community in Newport News. 

Emily was preceded in death by Olen who was her husband of 61 years, her parents, Leon and Ellen James and brothers, Leon and Mallory James and her sister Elizabeth James Thompson. She is survived by her son Olen Evans, Jr. and his life’s partner Sherry Collier, her daughter Teresa Evans Hux and husband David, grandchildren MeLaina Evans Mincher and husband Greg, Hunter Evans and fiancé Dana Scheg, Jake Evans, Stephanie Hux and Melanie Hux and great-grandchildren Leilani, Lorenzo and Emma Jeane.  She is also survived by her sister Mary Ellen James Crumpton and brother-in-law Robert Carroll Evans and his wife Karen and brother-in-law Tommy Thompson and his wife Becky in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider expressions of sympathy in the form of contributions to St. John’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 100 W Queens Way, Hampton, VA 23669.  Cards may be sent to the Evans family at Teresa’s home at 21 Dorothy Drive, Poquoson, VA 23662.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 9 am on Saturday, February 10th at Claytor Rollins Funeral Home in Poquoson with visitation immediately after the service.  Burial will be private at St. John’s Episcopal Church cemetery.   

Arrangements and heartfelt guidance through Claytor Rollins Funeral Home.

Online condolences to claytorrollins.com.

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