Obituary of Vera Jean Evans

Vera Jean Allen Evans, the loving daughter of Otis and Ethel Allen, was born on February 12, 1945 in Wake Forest, North Carolina. She peacefully transitioned from this life on March 12, 2023, at home surrounded by her loved ones. She received her early education in the public school system of Wake County, North Carolina, graduating from W.E.B. DuBois High School in 1963 as Valedictorian of her class. Continuing her education, Vera attended Shaw University, the second HBCU to be established in the South. As an avid lover of literature and the arts , she excelled in her studies and interests. She was selected to appear in the WHO's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges from Shaw University. As part of the Shaw Players, Vera showed her love of acting and shared cultural experiences within the community, occasionally doing small television segments. In 1966, she became the first junior to become Miss Shaw University.Vera also became an accredited, initiated member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on December 3, 1965, dedicating her life to serving others in her community. In 1967, she graduated from Shaw University with honors and began her teaching career. Vera continued her education and received a Masters Degree from Morgan State University. In 1967, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Joe Evans, Jr and from their union Danette, (Dani) and Joey were born. As an English teacher and Department Head, her career spanned 40 years of service to the education of children in the Baltimore City Public School System. She loved teaching and inspired students to excel in academics and in life. A lover of literature, she exposed her students to poetry, plays and books from many great authors and shared their historical importance of the times. She loved Langston Hughes, Paul Lawrence Dunbar and Shakespeare. Vera wanted her students to be exposed to the world around them and to be equipped with the knowledge in maximizing their gifts. As a woman of faith, Vera gave her life to Christ in her youth and continued her walk in the faith as an adult. She became a member of New Psalmist Baptist Church, a few years after moving to Baltimore. In service to God, she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Head of Board of Educational Ministries and Deaconess for the church. Over the years she continued serving the Lord, serving as a mentor, and sharing her gifts and faith with family and friends. In later years Epworth United Methodist Chapel became her church home, in which she and her husband Joe enjoyed fellowship and worship services. Vera's greatest joy was her family. She and her husband shared over 55 years of marriage with a lifetime of love and cherished memories. "No one has a heart like Vera", Joe always says. "She gave from her heart and had a gentle spirit". The love and devotion to her children Dani and Joey and her grandchild Diandra was paramount. She loved spending time with her siblings, nieces and nephews and close friends. Simple things meant the most to her, whether it was eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream, working a crossword puzzle, listening to music from the 60s and 70s, playing Scrabble with her granddaughter or just talking with her loved ones. Vera prayed for her family, her friends and anyone standing in need, as she was armed with The Word of God. She walked "The Word" in His Power and Grace, with a daily devotion to her Heavenly Father. Her life is a testament of the awesome power of God and his promises. Through her life we were blessed to have her as a devoted wife, loving mother, sister, aunt and friend. She was a woman with great humility, respect, integrity, commitment, sacrifice and love. She used God's precepts as her guide and understood that in this life, our faith would be tested daily. She understood that there is Grace in every moment for all of us. Now she returns Home to her rightful place with God to receive her Crown in Glory. Rest well in His Arms. A viewing will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Vaughn Greene Funeral Services, 8728 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133. On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, a homegoing celebration will be held at the Vaughn Greene Randallstown Chapel, 8728 Liberty Road, where the family will recieve friends from 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. with services to follow.