On August 6, 1946, Evelyn was born in Alameda County, California, to the late David Rice and Laura Ann Henderson Rice. When she was two, Evelyn’s aunt and uncle, Willie Clayton Abney and Chauncey Abney, whom she affectionately called “Madea” and “Dad,” brought her to Terrell, Texas. They loved, nurtured, and raised her as their own, along with their children, Maurice Abney, Norma Collins, and the late Minnie Guidry. After a few years, the family relocated to Dallas, Texas. In 1964, Evelyn graduated from James Madison High School, where she was a high-stepping majorette and a member of the woodwind section of the Trojan Marching Band. She attended two historically black colleges and universities in Texas, Huston-Tillotson University, and Prairie View A&M University.
Evelyn was married to the love of her life, Arthur Lee Woods, and their life-long romance spanned more than five decades. Their union produced two beautiful daughters, who were her pride and joy.
Evelyn worked for 22 years as a secretary in the Dallas Independent School District, but she always had an entrepreneurial spirit. In the late 70s, Evelyn and her husband started a family home-based donut business. They opened A&E Grocery in South Dallas in the early 80s. Evelyn also pursued business opportunities in Golden Neo-Life Diamite and Stream Energy. Her positive attitude, combined with a thirst to succeed and a thoughtful approach to growing her businesses, caused her to advance quickly to senior director positions in both companies.
Evelyn accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age. She was a member of Mount Moriah Baptist Church throughout her childhood and adolescence. In the mid-70s, she transferred her membership to Carver Heights Baptist Church. In January 1990, the spirit of the Lord led Evelyn to move her membership to Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, where she increased her spiritual growth and development under the pastoral care and leadership of the late Dr. Karry D. Wesley. Evelyn loved her pastor, her church family, and her beloved Sunday/Church School Class.
Many knew Evelyn for her kindness, humility, and graciousness. She exemplified her Christian faith and routinely demonstrated God’s love by opening her heart to everyone, and her influence will forever remain in the lives of those who knew her.
Evelyn deeply loved and cherished her family, and she relished her roles as a doting wife, mother, grandmother (“Mom, Mommo, and Sweet-Sweet”), sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She enjoyed reading, politics, Hallmark movies, playing video and card games, and spending time with her family and friends.
As a result of her generous and loving spirit and pleasant personality, she never met a stranger. She always greeted people with the warmest embrace, the most radiant smile, and some term of endearment. She lived her life to the fullest and faced every challenge without complaint. And if on any given day you asked Evelyn how she was doing, she would smile at you with a twinkle in her eye and say, “Baby, I’m super fantastic, amazing and ablazing!”
Evelyn was preceded in death by her beloved aunt and uncle, Willie Clayton and Chauncey Abney, her parents, David Rice and Ann Jackson, one sister Minnie Guidry, and two brothers, Jerry C. Rice and Kempy Jackson, Jr. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her devoted and loving husband, Arthur Lee Woods; her daughters, Tatia René Wilson (Parris) of Cedar Hill, TX, and Felicia Ann Woods of Dallas, TX; four sisters, Denise Jackson of Richmond, CA, Dequin Perkins of Denton, TX, Anitha Jackson of Oakland, CA, and Norma Collins of Dallas, TX; three brothers, Maurice Abney of Los Angeles, CA; Dwight Jackson of San Francisco, CA, and Carlton Jackson (Rosalyn) of Sacramento, CA; and five grandchildren, Mia S. Grays, Mikyra R. and Mikayla N. Watson, and Arthur M. and Parris E. Wilson. She will be deeply missed by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, relatives, and friends.
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