SUPPLY — Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mildred Crouch Evans, 95, passed away Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Bolivia. “Millie,” as she was known to her family and friends, was born Aug. 19, 1922 in Hoke County to James Calvin and Della Strother Crouch, the eighth of eight children.
She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband, Harley William Evans; four brothers, Arlie (Inez/Madge), Chesley (Ina), William (Gertrude) and J.C. (Nancy); sisters, Gladys Davis (Jamie), Bertha Spencer Sauls and Beatrice Slate (Roger).
Millie is also survived by both of her former sisters-in-law, Mary Evans of Bloxom and Naomi Evans of Palm Harbor, Florida. A special visitor to her home was her nephew, Jerry Evans, of Charlotte. She is survived by her daughter, Norma Evans Redfern of Fredericksburg, Virginia; three grandsons, Clayton Redfern (Becky) of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Eric Redfern (Gregory) of Ladysmith, Virginia, and Steven Redfern; three great-grandsons, Hunter, Liam nad Camden, and their mother, Kimberly Redfern, all of Supply. Millie has a large extended family, which she dearly loved. Many nieces, nephews and their families spread across the United States and Ecuador, South America. She was very close to her brother J.C.’s children, Morris Crouch, Carol Byrd, Linda Strickland, Joan Bondurant and Donna Farr, as well as her nephew, Ernest, and his wife, Marie, who brought her blueberries every summer and her niece, Opal Salley, who sent many cards, letters, copies of her paintings and numerous prepaid phone cards. Millie kept in contact with many of them and visited as often as possible. She also maintained friendships with people they had met while Harley served in the U.S. Army.
As a military family, moves were often. A couple of her favorite places were Japan and Alaska. Millie and Harley chose Supply to establish their retirement home. Once settled in Supply, they became very active in the community; on June 6, 1971, they joined Supply Baptist Church, where, at the time of her passing, she was the oldest, active member.
Millie was instrumental in starting a monthly luncheon for widows and widowers sponsored by the church. Supply Lions Club honored Millie for her many contributions to the club. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society, a group of ladies who were known as the Sassy Lassies of Supply and met monthly for lunch. Both Millie and Harley were known to be avid square dancers; a group who called themselves the Wheel & Dealers, spending many hours with their swinging friends and visiting several other clubs in the area.
Until her health declined and the closing of the hospital, Millie was a regular visitor to the Supply Hospital. Whether dressing up at holidays to visit patients or nursing homes so residents wouldn’t be lonely, she made small gifts so each person would know they were being thought of and were important. She had a servant’s heart.
Millie will be greatly missed by all whose paths she crossed. Now she and Harley have a new job, teaching the angels in heaven how to square dance.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 23, at Supply Baptist Church conducted by the Pastor Billy Rave. Internment with her beloved Harley will be held later in Quantico Cemetery, Quantico, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC. 28401-7335. The family would like to thank the staff of hospice and Universal Health Care/Brunswick Inc., Bolivia, where she was well cared for in the winter of her life.
Share online condolences with the family at Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service.
