Evelyn Rousseau Kennamer was born on Saturday, January 23, 1927, to John William and Julina
Carver Rousseau in Limrock, Alabama. She was one of four children. Aunt Eb, as many knew
her, went to Heaven on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, where she was welcomed by her husband, Olan
“Shorty” Kennamer, her sisters; Una Vivian Helms, Beatrice Wilbourn, and brother Jimmy
Rousseau, but the first person she saw, was Jesus, who took her hand, and spoke “your work is
done on earth and now you will spend eternity with me and others who have gone before you.
Aunt Eb was 97 years old and lived in Woodville, Alabama. She wanted her passing to not be a
sad time, but a celebration of the many years that had been given to her.
Aunt Eb attended Woodville High School and graduated in 1946 as Valedictorian of her class.
She was the last person living in her graduating class. Most of Aunt Eb’s career was spent at
Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. She began her career with the Army at Redstone
Arsenal as a supply cataloger and later as an equipment specialist. She was presented with
numerous certificates for the excellent work that she accomplished while working at Redstone
Arsenal.
After retirement, Aunt Eb volunteered with Jackson County Christmas Charities for many years
in the town of Woodville, where she not only served during the Christmas season but would
assist people with needs throughout the year. Being a servant was one of Aunt Eb’s greatest gifts
and it did not matter if she did or did not know you. She wanted to help those who needed help,
whether it be with assisting the elderly or helping the less fortunate. Aunt Eb was a
businesswoman way before her time. She didn’t only know how to complete required
documents, but she would make the necessary phone calls to get things taken care of. She also
had a heart for children; if she heard there were children in need of clothing, she was the first to
step up to ensure those needs were met.
Aunt Eb was an excellent cook and seamstress. She always had homemade piecrusts in the
freezer for when she needed to make a pie and she had her famous banana bread baked and iced
in the freezer for when she wanted to give to someone. Her talent for sewing went from sewing
Barbie doll clothes to making sure everyone in the nursing home, had gowns to wear.
The name Evelyn Kennamer was printed on many certificates and awards over her adult life.
Each one was special to her, and she could tell you about each one of them and what they meant
to her. Aunt Eb did nothing for recognition but because she wanted everyone to be taken care of
and to be given the opportunity for a better life.
Aunt Eb had friends of all ages and she never met a stranger. She loved spending time with
friends and family. She played cards with friends weekly, and they would tell you she was a
competitor but would always allow others to win a game each time that they played. Aunt Eb
played cards two times a week up until April of this year. When she could no longer go to play
cards with her friends, she hosted the card games at her house each week. Aunt Eb was not a
biological mother, but she was a mother to hundreds of people during her 97 years on Earth.
Aunt Eb kept herself young by reading books, playing cards, working puzzles, and keeping up
with her local, state, and national news. She was a wealth of knowledge, and she was always
ready to give her opinion on any topic.
Aunt Eb was married to Uncle Shorty for 68 years, when he passed away on January 17, 2013. He was the love of her life, and she has longed for the day until she got to be with him again.
Aunt Eb was preceded in death by her parents, John William and Julina Carver Rousseau, her sisters, Beatrice Wilbourn, Una Vivian Helms, and her brother Jimmy Rousseau. A special thank you to Ray and Donna Frazier, Bill and Jill Maynard for all that they did for Aunt Eb during her lifetime, also to her sweet Connie Denson, who was her caregiver and most importantly, her friend for the past six months. There was one Aunt Eb who took care of everyone, but she had a village that took care of her, and because of each of those friends and family, she was able to live an independent life until a few weeks before her passing.
Visitation for Evelyn will be Friday, May 10, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with the service at
1:00 p.m. at Rudder Funeral Home in Scottsboro, Alabama. Burial will be in Union Cemetery in Woodville, Alabama.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to one of the following:
Woodville Public Library: PO Box 116, Woodville, Alabama 335776
Union Cemetery: PO Box 26, Woodville, Alabama 35776
Peter’s Cove Cemetery: 9369 County Road 30, Woodville, AL 35776, Attn: Debbie Manning
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rudderfuneralhomes.com
