Extracted from The Clarion Ledger (Jackson, MS)
Robert G. Evans
Robert G. Evans, 13th Circuit Court Judge, died Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at St. Dominic's Hospital following a brief illness. Judge Evans was born on January 11, 1949 in Scott County Hospital, Morton, Mississippi.
Reared in Smith County, Bob's family later moved to Magee, where he graduated from high school. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Mississippi and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1974.
Following a stint in private practice, Evans was elected to the office of District Attorney, 13th Circuit Court, (Simpson, Smith, Covington, and Jasper Counties), 1980 through 1991, after which he was elected Circuit Judge in which capacity he served from February, 1991 until the present.
Evans, also, served as Chairman for the Mississippi Conference of Circuit Court Judges from 2002-2003; was a member of the American Law Institute, and Mensa Society.
Sparked by his interest in religions, Judge Evans wrote The Seven Messianic Festivals, (which related traditional Old Testament Jewish festivals to Christianity). He, also, authored The 16th Mississippi Infantry: Civil War Letters and Reminiscences, published by the University Press of Mississippi in 2002. This endeavor won Evans the Mississippi Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, General William D. McCain Publication Award. He was chosen to read excerpts from this work at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, Tennessee.
A longtime member of Sardis Baptist Church in Smith County, Bob served as a member of the Executive Committee, a deacon, and Sunday School teacher.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Paula Pitts Evans.
He is survived by his parents, Gaynell and Mary Evans of Taylorsville; a brother, Mac, his wife, Emily; nephews, Zachary and Dylan, also of Taylorsville; a sister, Wanda Boyles her husband, Mark, a nephew Bret and his wife, Kristy; and great-nephew, Parker of Arlington, VA; and a niece, Bethany Boyles Seal and her husband, Jeb of Hattiesburg.
Judge Evans donated his body to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for research. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 23, 2010 at 10:00 a. m. at the Smith County Court House in Raleigh, Mississippi.
In lieu of flower[s], memorials may be sent to the Gaynell and Mary Evans Honorary Scholarship Fund, Taylorsville First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 357, Taylorsville, Mississippi 39168.
Sunday, July 18, 2010