A Celebration of the Life of Frances English Philpot Evans will be held today, Dec. 3, 2015 at Central United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. with Rev. Gary Formby officiating and Roselawn Funeral Home making the arrangements. The family will greet guests after the service in the Fellowship Hall.
She died on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015 at the age of 102 at the Riverside Senior Living Center where she had been a resident for the past nine years.
Frances was born in Austinville (now Decatur) on Spring Avenue to James Fred English, Sr. and Margaret Gertrude Pfaff English.
She graduated from the Albany High School in Decatur at age 13 and after two years of study at Athens College (now Athens State) began teaching elementary school at Somerville. Subsequently she taught at Falkville, Moulton, Arly and at Morgan County High School in Hartselle. She eventually attended Florence State and Auburn University where she received a Master’s Degree in speech correction.
In 1939 she married Frank N. Philpot and both taught school in North Alabama until he became principal of the Morgan County High School in Hartselle. As her husband’s career unfolded she lived in Montevallo; New York, New York; Montgomery; Bloomington, Illinois; Athens and Memphis, Tennessee before retiring to Decatur in 1966 in the restored farmhouse where she was born.
Frances always believed you should “bloom where you are planted” and she found opportunities for projects wherever she lived. While living in Bloomington, Illinois, she sold real estate and acted as general contractor for an apartment complex she developed.
During the years she spent in Athens, while her husband was President of Athens College, she entertained numerous campus visitors and took on the project of renovating an old slave cabin behind the President’s home to be used as a guesthouse.
While in Memphis, Frances organized a project to get free eye exams and glasses for underprivileged children after a friend told her that she had several children in her elementary classroom whom she suspected had serious vision problems.
When her husband retired from Memphis State, the couple rebuilt and decorated the farmhouse where she was born and they entertained friends from throughout the country. She once commented that they had had overnight company 200 nights during the previous year. She also found time in retirement to organize a series of group tours to Europe and the Middle East. She and her husband also promoted the planting and growing of crepe myrtle trees in Decatur holding annual sales of sapling trees at their home.
Frances frequently contributed letters to the editorial page of the Decatur Daily and worked quietly to provide food and work for a number of struggling individuals she believed in.
Throughout her life she continued to teach speech part-time both publicly and privately and took great pride in her ability to help students become good public speakers.
Frances was a lifelong member of the Methodist church and raised money throughout her life for its mission projects – particularly medical and agricultural mission work.
In Decatur, she was an active member of Central United Methodist Church where she regularly taught Sunday school.
Following the death of her husband in 1995, Frances married Arthur Evans in 1997 and they continued to live at Windy Hill until his death in 2006.
In 2006 she moved into the Riverside Senior Living Center where she was known as a frequent visitor and reader to other residents and someone who was always upbeat and cheerful.
She is survived by two sons, Frank Allen Philpot and Ken Philpot; two stepsons, Arthur Evans Jr. and Richard Evans; six grandchildren; three nieces and several grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her two husbands; her step-sister, Mary Alma Hambrick; and her brother, James Fred English, Jr.
The family would like to express words of appreciation to the staff at Riverside and to Dr. Emily McClure for the care they provided to Mrs. Evans. Also special gratitude is expressed to Karen Aday for her service and caregiving to Mrs. Evans for 17 years. Mrs. Evans often observed that her life was much better because of the presence of Mrs. Aday.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Central United Methodist Church, 616 6th Avenue, SE, Decatur, AL 35601.
Please sign our online registry at www.roselawnfhandcemetery.com
