Dr. Melvin Ira Evans, Sr.

Obituary For Dr. Melvin Ira Evans, Sr.

Private funeral services will be Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., Autumn Woods Cemetery, 4000 W. Northside Drive, Jackson, MS 39209.

Dr. Melvin I. Evans, Sr. October 6, 1931 – July 19, 2020

Son of John and Mattie Snipes Evans Grandson of Jefferson Snipes & Frank and Venus Evans Great Grandson of Sykes Snipes Great Grandson of John Evans

Melvin Evans grew up in Georgetown, South Carolina, where he attended segregated public schools and graduated from Howard High School lettering in football, basketball and baseball. He continued his education at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, and graduated in 1954. While there, he lettered in football, sang with the Album of Faith Singers, was member of the Debate Club, and was elected president of his senior class.

After college, Melvin began his teaching and coaching career at Sterling High School in Greenville, S.C., but was soon drafted into the military and served with distinction until 1956. Upon his discharge, he resumed his teaching and coaching career at Howard High School in Georgetown where he taught science and health and coached football and basketball. In 1957, he enrolled in the graduate program at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and simultaneously held the position of athletics director at Choppee High School, Choppee, South Carolina. He remained there until 1960 when he accepted the position of head line football coach; cross-country, track and field coach; and assistant professor at Allen University. In 1963, Melvin was named head football coach at Allen and received the honor of Coach of the Year in football, track and field.

In 1965, he accepted a position as assistant professor of Health and Physical Education at Maryland State College, now the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. There he coached football, tennis and baseball and continued his research by founding the Exercise Physiology Laboratory and conducting research on “The Effects of Steam Bathing on the Cardiovascular System.” Melvin enrolled in the doctoral program at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1968 and received his degree in 1970. That same year, he accepted the position of chair and associate professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Jackson State College, now Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi. After one year, in 1971, Dr. Melvin I. Evans was promoted to full professor. As department chair, new programs that he instituted included health and recreation administration, therapeutic recreation, drug education, adapted physical education, and driver education.

Dr. Evans’ expertise placed him in high demand for many important committees including The University Curriculum, Black Studies, Tenure and Promotions, SACS Self-study, SACS Evaluator, Head Football Coach Search, Athletics Committee, Search Committee for Director of Athletics, Self-Study Committee for NCATE, and the National Teacher Examination Committee.

He retired in 2001 after 31years at Jackson State University and 47 years in the profession. However, he continued as an adjunct professor for several additional years establishing a teaching career that spanned over half a century. His certifications include: • Comprehensive Health Educator, Rutgers University • Mississippi Teacher Assessment Instrument Evaluator • Drug Education, Yale University • Alcohol and Drug Studies, University of Georgia • Basketball and Football Official: South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Mississippi

Dr. Evans was a member of and held offices in numerous professional and academic associations and organizations including the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, which he joined in 1952 as a student. He continued his membership with the exception of his two years of military service and only missed one national convention from 1964 until his retirement. He was a prolific writer, dynamic speaker, and an advocate for the development of young professionals. He worked on every level of the Alliance and demonstrated exceptional leadership for more than five decades. As a life member, he encouraged young members to acquire life membership to demonstrate their commitment to the profession through the Alliance. Dr. Evans’ professional memberships included: • American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation – Life Member • Mississippi Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation – President • Southern District, Alliance for Health, P.E. and Recreation – Chair, Ethnic Minorities Council • National African American Association of Fitness and Sports – First President • National Recreation and Park Association • Mississippi Recreation and Park Association • National Therapeutic Recreation Society • Society of Park and Recreation Educators • National Education Association • American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education • American Association of Educators • Mississippi Association of Teacher Educators • American College of Sports Medicine • Phi Delta Kappa • Ethnic Minority Society of the Study of Afro-American Life and History • American Association of University Professors • American Council of Teacher Educators – University Representative

He also held numerous state, regional and national offices in professional as well as non-teaching professional affiliations and activities including: • Optimist International, Jackson, Mississippi – Secretary/Treasurer • Mississippi International Ballet – Board of Directors • Jackson Police Athletic Association – Board of Directors • Jackson Pan-Hellenic Council – Chairman • Mississippi International Ballet Competition – Executive Committee • Mississippi Federal Credit Union – Chairman, Board of Directors • Hinds County Federal Credit Union – Chairman, Board of Directors • First Commerce Savings and Loan – Corporate Secretary • Tri Country Chapter of Big Brother / Big Sister, Board of Directors • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Life Member; Former Polemarch, Jackson Alumni Chapter • Southwestern Athletics Conference (SWAC) – Faculty Athletics Representative • National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) – Faculty Athletics Representative • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – President of Clinton, MS Chapter for 20 years, Life Member, President Emeritus of Clinton Chapter

Dr. Evans was a consultant for the Basic Stuff Workshop that dealt with basic knowledge and problem-solving techniques for physical education teachers in elementary, middle and high schools. In 1990, he served as a consultant for Jamaica where he traveled throughout the country lecturing on the physiological and emotional effects of drugs on the body, methods of teaching sports, and general conditioning for sports participation. In 2005, he served as a consultant for the Madison, Mississippi School District.

During his tenure at Jackson State University, he wrote and administered numerous grants totaling millions of dollars, presented at national and international conferences, published articles in professional journals, and co-authored three books: Physical Education Handbook (Hunter Publishing Co., 1981), Research Made Meaningful (Burgess Publishing Co., 1984), Three Spirits in One (Evans Enterprises, 2002). Dr. Evans was also a regular contributor to the editorial page of Clarion Ledger Newspaper. His numerous awards for outstanding achievement as an educator and social activist include: • Teacher of the Year, Jackson State University, 1983 • Outstanding Educator of the Year • Coach of the Year in Football, Track and Field, Allen University, 1963 • C.D. Henry Award, American Alliance for Health, Physical Ed., Recreation and Dance • Honor Award, Southern District of the Alliance for Health, P.E., Recreation and Dance • Honor Award, Mississippi Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance • Athletics Hall of Fame and Certificate of Appreciation, Allen University • Man of the Year, Kappa Alpha Psi, 1975 • Outstanding Club President and Lt. Governor, Optimist International • Outstanding Civic Award, Clinton NAACP • Salutation, The Garden Club of Jackson, Mississippi

As a proponent of black entrepreneurship and business ownership, Dr. Evans owned and operated several enterprises including The Cotton Gin, an upscale clothing store located on Capital Street in the early 1970s, at the time when it was the main street of the downtown business district.

A life-long member of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Dr. Evans was a man of great faith, which governed how he lived. It was the foundation for the integrity with which he lived his life – an integrity for which he was well known and admired. His service at Allen Temple AME Church, Jackson, Mississippi and Lampton Chapel AME Church, Canton, Mississippi included Trustee, Class Leader, Choir Member, Board of Stewards Chairman, Chair of the Finance Committee, Sunday School Teacher, President of the East Mississippi Conference Lay Organization, Lay President of the Eighth Episcopal District, and Committee Member of the Katrina Disaster Allocation Committee of the Eighth Episcopal District. He leaves a legacy of service to his profession, community, church and family that was motivated by a favorite scripture: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Dr. Evans was married 69 years to Dora Gathers Evans. He leaves wonderful memories to be cherished by her; their children Joyce (Peter), Vincent (Julia), Veronica (Samuel); daughter-in-law Freddi; grandchildren Akita (Steven), Melvin III, Vincent Jr. (Tonya), Jamal, Carmen, Steven, Evans, Marcellus, Deatrik, Samuel; great grandchildren Mikelle, Nevaeh, Audrey, Elliott; sister Delores; brother Jefferson (Pauline); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends. He was preceded in death by his son Melvin Jr., and his two brothers and four sisters.