Fred Evans

Fred L. Evans, Jr. of Danville passed away peacefully on January 9, 2019.  A Danville native, Fred was born on October 15, 1930 as the youngest child of Fred L. Evans, Sr. and Lillie Chattin Evans. On February 17, 1951, he married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Lee Barker.  They enjoyed a long and happy life together until his passing.  Fred is survived by his wife and their two children, David L. Evans of Orlando, Florida and Martha E. Ray and her husband, Newton H. Ray, Jr. of Danville, and his constant canine companion Moses.  He had five grandchildren, Ann Stuart Ray and fiancé Christopher Zakhary of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Meredith Ray of Charlotte, North Carolina, Leslie Evans of Orlando, Florida, Newton H. Ray, III of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Dorian Evans Gonzalez and husband Andrew Gonzalez of Tallahassee, Florida, along with many nieces and nephews. As a young man, Fred worked at Virginia Tobacco Company as a bookkeeper and, as such, covered tobacco markets in Danville, North Carolina, and Tennessee.  In 1965 he became the Executive Director of The Danville United Fund which later became The United Way of Danville and Pittsylvania County. He held this position for 32 years, retiring in 1997. During that time the organization grew from an annual goal of 200 thousand dollars to over a million dollars, supporting many community agencies and causes.  He was instrumental, along with several others, in laying the groundwork for the original Danville Community Foundation.  Following his retirement from United Way he became a Real Estate Broker in Virginia and North Carolina. Although not a trained musician, he sang in church choirs for many years and was a charter member of the Danville Barbershop Chorus and The Danville Choral Arts Society.  Not only did he enjoy singing, but he was fond of the fellowship offered by other participants.  He was a member of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church and was a past recipient of the Danville Kiwanis Club Citizenship Award He was an active member of the Danville Kiwanis Club where he served as President of the local club and as Lieutenant Governor of the Division.  In 2015 Fred received a permanent dues card declaring him to be a Masonic Veteran (Fifty years as a Mason in Roman Eagle Lodge, No. 122). Fred learned American Sign Language and worked for many years with the area’s deaf. He had many deaf friends and felt this to be an important ministry both in church related matters as well as personal and business matters for the deaf. Funeral services will take place on Friday, January 11 at 2:00 pm at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 107 West Main St, Danville, VA 24541, with a private burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that consideration for donations be made to the Danville Lifesaving Crew, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, or a charity of choice.  The family will be receiving friends and family at the residence of Newton and Martha Ray.