Evelyn Crews

Obituary For Evelyn Crews

Born to the union of Martha Smith Wright and James Authur Wright, Evelyn was both the youngest daughter and youngest child in a family of three girls and two boys. As she would say, there were the
first three children and then there were the last two - she and her older brother Hiawatha “Waf”. They
were lifelong buddies. Whether they were busy exploring the backwoods of their birthplace of
Franklinton, NC, making “wild pony rides” out of springy tree limbs, playing in the creeks, or making
friends out of farm animals, Evelyn and Waf were inseparable. And her memories of growing up in
Franklinton and part-time in White Plains, NY with her older sisters were always fond and comforting,
especially as young age turned to old. As a child, she accepted Jesus Christ at Mount Pleasant Church
in Franklinton.

Transferring out of Barbara Scotia Junior College in Concord, NC, she entered and graduated Shaw
University (class of 1946) in Raleigh where she met Bynum C. Crews Jr. He became her husband of
nearly 61 years, predeceasing her in 2008. To them were born four sons. Though raising a house-full, Bynum and Evelyn still made time for their beloved Shaw Bears, their A&T Aggies, NCCU Eagles,
the NAACP Greensboro Chapter, Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and St. James Presbyterian Church. From Shaw, she went onto NC A&T University to complete a Masters in Education.

Teaching - not only was it Evelyn’s occupation, it was her gift…her love. Beginning her career in Hillsborough, North Carolina, she served forty-years as a public school teacher. And not just in the classroom was she a teacher, but in her church (St. James Presbyterian) as well. At St. James, she helped develop and often taught “Time for Children”: at the altar steps on Sunday mornings. In ‘92, she retired from Greensboro City Schools but not before being nominated for Teacher of the Year once. Yet before the ink could dry on her retirement paperwork, she was back in the classroom as a popular substitute teacher. This she did until 2000, when she bowed out to care for a husband who needed her.

Evelyn lived through much of the 20th century, experiencing a world that’s now recorded in history
books. She saw changes in the South that were unimaginable to her parents and ancestors. Without
notoriety or fame, she stood at the forefront as change came to North Carolina classrooms. She stood
up fearlessly in those classrooms, in the department stores, in the restaurants and more. Her voice neither quivered nor softened in defending and bettering her family, students, and community. Proud, Brave, Outspoken. She taught both her own and other parents’ children how to be the same.

In later years, she faced aging and its challenges with expected doses of grace, humor, discontentment,
and courage. These years brought her to Owings Mills, MD where family could better care for her until
she “crossed that Jordan River”. To cherish her memory and love, she leaves behind those four sons she always trumpeted about - Donald (Doris), Reginald (Margaret), Arnald (Vannee), and Ronald (Sheila) amid grandchildren [listed by age] Damian Crews, Stephen Crews, Danny Guild, Courtney (Eugene) Theisen, Andrea Crews, Dante Spencer, and Breana Spencer. Additionally, she leaves six great-grandchildren, niece, nephews, great-nieces, and a host of great-grandnieces and nephews; not to mention, the forty years’ worth of students and colleagues left here appreciating her life too. So Mrs. Crews, Soror, Evelyn, Aunt, Grandma, Momma, know that you were love and you were loved. ‘til we all meet again.

Funeral service will be held Monday, May 22, 2023 12:30 pm at St. James Presbyterian Church 820 Ross Avenue. Greensboro, North Carolina. 12 pm Visitation. Burial will follow at Guilford Memorial Park 6000 Gate City Boulevard Greensboro, North Carolina.