Cora graduated from W. S. Creecy High School in 1950, where she enjoyed her role as the captain of the girls’ basketball team. Even in her thirties, she could outplay and outscore many of the teenaged boys on Cahill’s basketball court. In her seventies, she had taken great pride in her ability to still make free throw shots. Lacking in a basketball scholarship and funding, Cora was unable to attain her goal to attend the University of North Carolina but would not be denied her opportunity to achieve success in life. That journey began with a move to Washington, D.C., where she attended Cortez Peters Business College and soon after, with a move to Baltimore where she launched a thirty-one-year career in the federal government. It was in the latter that she met and married Michael Mygrant Evans (now deceased) and gave birth to two daughters, Marsha Felicia (also deceased) and Jetta Romaine.
Cora was very outgoing and usually had friendly conversation for most people she met. After retiring in 1989, from a career highlighted by many achievement awards, she returned to work part-time positions, one of which was working side-by-side with her niece, and daughter of her heart, Madeline, for the US Census Bureau. Cora enjoyed singing, crafts of wreath making and floral arrangements, and completing a crossword puzzle every day until suffering a stroke in April of 2022, at the age of ninety.
Cora was preceded in death by her daughter Marsha Felicia, sisters, Lillie Mae Richardson, Salonie Jolly, Eleanora Grant, and Helen Askew. As well as brothers, Herman, William, James Pierce. Three nieces, Gwendolyn, Lavionne, and Toria. Four nephews, Darryl, George, Jr., Brian, and Stanley. A great niece, Valerie, and a great nephew, Zachery. She is survived by her daughter Jetta, granddaughters, Marshella, Keisha, and Kavonn, grandson, Andre, great grandson Isaiah, and great granddaughter, Taylor. A brother George Pierce, Sr, two sisters-in-law, Georgia Canada and Elizabeth Pierce, five nieces, Phyllis, Amyle, Madeline, Diane, and Denise, eight nephews, William, Lamar, Robert, Lamar (2nd), George, Jr., Derek, Doug, and Troy. Numerous great nieces and nephews, and great, great nieces, nephews, and cousins. As well as her BFF, sister of her heart, and cousin-in-law, Rosalie Butler, cousin, Mable Stokes, and son-in-law, and son of her heart, Gregory Joyner, along with numerous extended family members and friends.
The family would like to acknowledge you for your kind words and gestures of support. And the staff of both Quality Spring Assisted Living of Montgomery County and Hebrew Home of Greater Washington for their compassionate care and ministering during Cora’s stay.
In her memory, donations can be made to Catholic Charities and So Others Might Eat.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 5, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 12319 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904, immediately followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Interment will be in Norbeck Memorial Park, 16625 Batchellors Forest Road, Olney, Maryland 20832.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hinesrinaldifuneralhome.com for the Evans family.
