Dera Mae Evans, nee Durden, age 83 of Huntsville Alabama passed away peacefully on September 10, 2026 with her husband Thomas Evans and nieces Ramona Couch and Tamatha Watson at her bedside. Dera was born June 29, 1943 in Equality, Alabama. Dera was preceded in her death by her beloved son John Christopher Evans, her parents John and Maggie Durden, her brothers John Durden, James Durden and Tommy Durden.
Dera is survived by her husband of 65 years, Thomas Wayne Evans, her son and wife Thomas and Angela Evans, grandchildren; Austin and Stevie Johnson, Millie Evans, Liam Evans and Aiden Evans, great grandchildren; Theodora and Brooks Johnson and sister Robbie Reid.
Dera loved spending time with her family, solving word puzzles, Nascar, Alabama football and watching the songbirds from her front porch. She worked for Madison Academy for 10 years feeding hungry, young learners. Dera is most known for her enormous heart and was regarded as a mother to the neighborhood. Her son Tommy would often bring home wayward teenagers that have been kicked out of their homes. Dera welcomed them with open arms, providing shelter, food, clothing and love. So many of those young men called her mom. She took Jesus’s direction to feed and shelter the needy to heart. She was a true Christian.
“Undertaker, Undertaker, Undertaker,
Won’t you please drive slow for that lady you are haulin’,
Lord I hate to see her go.”
-The Carter Family
“Mama, Granny, Sugarboog…
We will always love you!”
