Evalon L. Jones

King Solomon once said, “Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies” Prov. 31:10. On December 14, 1926, such a woman entered this world who was named, Evalon Lucille Holt. She was born to the union of the prominent late couple, Dr. Clifford Harrison Holt, and Mrs. Geneva Helen Holt. Evalon grew into a beautiful and sophisticated woman and married the late Mr. Oscar D. Jones; to this union a son, Terrance Dewitt and a daughter, Teresa Carole were born. Evalon had two brothers who preceded her in death, infant Clifford H. Holt, Jr., and Mr. Paul A. Holt, as well as a sister, Ms. Geneva H. Holt.

Evalon graduated from the 1944 class of Lincoln High School, and she went on to attend the Kansas City Business College. Having a love for the word of God, Evalon enrolled in the C.H. Mason System of Bible Colleges where she graduated with a Masters Teaching Certificate and later became an Evangelist Missionary. Evalon had a distinguished career in government. She was employed with the City of Kansas City Missouri where she worked for over 13 years before entering Federal service where she held various administrative positions. At the Federal level, Evalon worked for the United States Department of Treasury, and she retired from the U.S. General Services Administration with honors after 21 years of total service. Evalon has been a member of various civic and community groups. She was particularly active in the Women’s Auxiliary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital. In the auxiliary she served as an officer, and she was instrumental in raising a substantial amount of funds for the erection of the first Black hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Evalon was also a charter board member of The Source Connection, Incorporated.

Evalon served the church for 60 years prior to her failing health. She came from a long ancestry of godly and notable men and women. Her grandparents were the late Elder Thomas and Mother Lucille Holt, who were some of the earliest church planting pioneers in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Western Missouri under Bishop V.M. Barker’s auspices. Evalon started working early in the church. As a girl she accompanied her grandmother, Supervisor Lucille Holt, on various evangelistic trips throughout Missouri and Kansas. Evalon served for many years as the jurisdictional secretary for the Youth Department under the then, Elder Emanuel Newton. She also served as the President of the local Hospitality Department for Faith Mission Church under the late Supt. Humbert Lambert. Mother Evalon was very active in the Jurisdictional and National Young Women’s Christian Council, under the late Mother Burnell Speaks and Bishop E. Harris Moore. In the YWCC she served as a jurisdictional vice-president, a mentor, teacher, and role model for young women. In her later years she served as a faithful member of the Mothers’ Board at Barker Memorial COGIC under Bishop John M. Johnson and Trinity Temple COGIC under Mother Ethel Hundley, and Bishop Benjamin Stephens III.

Evalon peacefully passed away on January 2, 2024, and leaves to cherish her memory her devoted and loving children; son, Terrance D. Jones (Wanda), daughter, Teresa C. Jones, grandsons, Ronnell D. Jones (Ruth), and Terrik D. Jones; a sister-in-law, Naomi Holt and a host of greatgrandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and very special friends.