Old Soldiers Never Die: The Legacy of W.A. Evans

By Marlene R. Evans-Askew

Rev. Wallace A. Evans is my grandfather who lived to be 100 years old. He was born August 22, 1884 and he died November 29, 1984. My grandfather was a man among men. I have come to realize he will live on in all of us. If I were to sum up his life in a song it would be, “I’m A Soldier in the Army of The Lord.” It is an honor to be labeled a soldier in the Lord’s army. It’s an even greater honor if your journey lasts 100 years.

His dedicated life has left a profound impartation upon mine. It has been a great pleasure and honor to write about him. Old soldiers, they don’t die, they just fade away is both a poetic and prophetic way to sum up my grandfather’s inspiring life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665542951

Marlene R. Evans-Askew

Marlene Ruth Evans-Askew was born January 29th, 1940 in Gainesville, Fl. She is the oldest daughter of the late Willis Evans Sr. and Corine Freeman. When she was seven months old Marlene was given to her grandparents the late Rev. W. A. Evans and Hattie Evans. She was raised in a Christian home, knowing the fear and love of God. Marlene is the first grandchild of the late Rev. Evans. Marlene’s roots springs from the foundation and work of pastor and preacher, Wallace Evans, who went on to glory at the age of 100.

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© 2021 Marlene R. Evans-Askew. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-6655-4294-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-4295-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021922242

Published by AuthorHouse

Rev. date: 02/26/2022

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DEDICATION

The first selection of my memoirs; are dedicated to my five children. Thereah, E. Ivey, Octavia A. Evans, Yolanda M. Askew, Melvin Askew, Jr and Patrick O. Askew. I cherished my upbringing. The legacy lives on. I have attempted to share my memories with my children, grandchildren and many others. I am the oldest of my generation. I felt compelled to share my experience with my siblings, cousins, friends and many others, as well

Contents

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 IN THE BEGINNING

CHAPTER 2 THE EARLY YEARS – THE 40S

CHAPTER 3 GROWING UP IN THE 40S & 50S WHAT A LIFE!

CHAPTER 4 LIFE IN THE 60S

CHAPTER 5 LIFE IN THE 70S

CHAPTER 6 LIFE IN THE 80S

CHAPTER 7 OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE… THEY JUST FADE AWAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A special thanks to my daughter, Yolanda Askew who so graciously and patiently helped me with this endeavor.

INTRODUCTION

Rev. Wallace A. Evans is my grandfather who lived to be 100 years old. He was born August 22, 1884 and he died November 29, 1984. My grandfather was a man among men. I have come to realize he will live on in all of us. If I were to sum up his life in a song it would be, I’m A Soldier in the Army of The Lord. It is an honor to be labeled a soldier in the Lord’s army. It’s an even greater honor if your journey lasts 100 years.

His dedicated life has left a profound impartation upon mine. It has been a great pleasure and honor to write about him. Old soldiers, they don’t die, they just fade away is both a poetic and prophetic way to sum up my grandfather’s inspiring life.

CHAPTER ONE

IN THE BEGINNING

The Early Years

Wallace Evans was born August 22, 1884 in Orangeburg, S.C. He was born to the union of Brantley and Lucy Evans. He was one of nine children – five boys and four girls.

His father was born in 1855. His mother was born in 1843.

His brothers:

Lawrence born 1880

Virgil born 1882

Isaiah, around 1883

Gary born 1895

His sisters:

Carrie born 1887

Flossie born 1891

Lottie born 1897

Louise born 1898

Wallace Evans worked in the field approximately nine months out of the year. But he was able to come into town and attend school at least 3 months out of the year. He was not able to finish his education; however, he learned to read and write very well. When he was around thirteen, he dropped out of school to work full-time to help his parents and the other siblings. His dream was to become a doctor.

He educated himself through reading and studying on his own. Education was important to him and he instilled that in us as well. Although, he never was able to fulfill his dream of becoming a medical doctor, down through the years he did become a doctor of the soul. Many came to know Christ under his ministry.

1920

In 1920 during the industrial revolution at the age of 35, he left Orangeburg, S.C. and traveled with his wife Hattie Evans who was 27 and daughter Lillie Evans who was 12 years old. Lillie lived through the early 30s but would pass before I was born in childbirth. The loss of Lillie and her child was a big blow to my grandmother and their deaths would be one of the reasons I would come to be raised by my grandparents. But that part of the story is for a little later.

When my grandparents first came to Florida, they settled in Palatka in Putnam County. Granddaddy landed a job of chipping boxes which was the work of the day. It was hard work. But it was honest work and it afforded him the opportunity to take care of his family.

Englewood

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This is a picture of Englewood, Florida over a 100 years ago. It still looked just like this in the early forties when I was young. It was as if our town had been preserved in time. Not far from where we lived there were even artifacts found at the Indian Mound Park area that dated as far back as 400 B.C. Historians believe that this area had once been inhabited by the Calusa Indians.

However, before my grandfather would migrate to Florida, his early years were spent in South Carolina. He was