Obituary of David Lee Evans Jr.

David Lee Evans Jr. was born on May 09, 1946 in Newport News, Virginia to the late David L. Evans Sr. and Gertie Perry. He peacefully departed this life on January 18, 2024, surrounded by loved ones at his home in Baltimore, Maryland. Affectionately known by some as Poochie, he spent much of his early years on family land, owned by his late grandparents, Horrace and Lucy Perry, in Warren County, North Carolina. He, along with relatives and friends, would spend summers harvesting tobacco. In his teenage years, he showed a keen interest in music, fitness, sports, and entrepreneurial endeavors. He was self-taught and exceptionally gifted in singing and playing the piano, organ, percussion, guitar, and saxophone and played in his high school band. To enhance his stature and to protect himself and loved ones, David diligently trained in boxing and weight lifting. He was a lineman on the Dunbar High School football team (graduating Class '64). He even mastered the games of table tennis and chess, rarely turning down a match. A little known fact is that as teenagers, he and his brother, Joseph, who he called by his middle name Morris, established a shoe shine business in East Baltimore. They built a shoe shine box from scratch to earn money and to help support their mother and siblings at home. In 1967, he enlisted in the Army and was briefly stationed in Landstuhl, Germany, serving as a Combat Medical Specialist, administering emergency medical care to wounded soldiers. In addition to caring for the wounded, David found the time to run track for the Army and play in the Army band. He was honorably discharged in 1972 and received the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal for serving during the Vietnam War era. At the age of 24, he married Patricia Anderson (div.). David was the proud father of four children David, Nzinga (for. Alicia), Daviah, and Danielle, always offering fatherly guidance. He had two subsequent marriages and divorces. David commenced his automotive career at the former General Motors plant in South Baltimore and retired after 31 years, having worked the assembly line and in supervision. Along with this full-time position, he started a home improvement business, registered as David L. Evans & Son. David's other entrepreneurial ventures included calligraphy writer, minister and producer of music, and residential property investor. At one time in his life, he fully renovated his property on Montford Avenue, which became one of his homes and a music studio. The Apostolic Church was an integral part of his life and the teachings of Christ helped shape his noble character. At an early age, he felt called to use his musical gifts to honor God and ultimately served as the minister of music and choir director at a few churches in Maryland and North Carolina. He managed the gospel quartet group, The Evans Brothers, with his brothers, Joseph and Lawrence. And to make it even more of a family affair, he included his son David L. Evans III and nephew, the late Tony Evans, as musicians for the group. He would accompany, on the organ or piano, his daughter, Nzinga, during sermonic solos. With such a busy schedule, he still somehow found time to manage and produce other gospel groups in Baltimore, Maryland. Later in his life, he studied Theology and was ordained as an Elder as he boldly shared his faith through preaching and singing. Despite his great ambition and zeal for life, health issues plagued him for many years. After his retirement, he battled with cardiovascular and renal diseases and suffered a stroke. However, having received loving care from his sister Sandra, "the Drill Sergeant", and nephew Damus, he nearly made a full recovery and even joined a competitive bowling league and bowled games that averaged in the upper 200s. David sadly encountered a second stroke that left him incapacitated and he spent years in nursing facilities where his health continued to decline. Although he had a strong support system, he unfortunately suffered maltreatment which led to him being discharged in 2022, to live out the rest of his life lovingly cared for by his daughter, Nzinga. Through prayer and the consistent quality care of caregivers and healthcare workers, his physical wounds healed, his quality of life improved, his dignity was restored, and he undoubtedly knew that he was loved and treasured. Even when given a bleak prognosis of his deteriorating health condition, his will remained strong until the time of his passing. God's Healed Warrior is at peace in paradise, finally reunited with his mother, Gertie, the apple of his eye! He leaves to cherish his memories as a leader, protector, provider, and visionary - his four children, David L. Evans III (LaKeisha), Nzinga Ayo-Mamadi, Daviah La'Tesha Evans, and Patrice Danielle Knox (Lanell); his siblings Elder Joseph Evans (Lois), Elder Lawrence Evans, Rev. Dr. Jean Evans Harris, Linda Evans, Sandra Evans, Brenda Evans; and a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.