Evelyn Alexander

Born in New Rochelle, New York, Evelyn Alexander was the only child born to John and Sarah Kemp. Little did they know that when Evelyn was created, the mold was forever broken. There was no other like her. She was vivacious even as a child. She had close family ties with her first cousins, George L. Starke, Sr. and Frances (Starke) Smith. Her spiritual guidance came early under the direction of Reverend Long at Bethesda Baptist Church, also, in New Rochelle. Growing up to Evelyn meant climbing trees to get to the neighbors apples and playing baseball with George while Frances tried to rein in their mischievous efforts. Evelyn attended A&T State University, in Greensboro, North Carolina after graduation from New Rochelle High School where opportunities abounded to further develop her sense of 'fashionista' style and grace. She was one of the first African American women to model at Lord & Taylor stores in New York City and learned dance under the direction of Katherine Dunham. As an AKA, she escorted Eleanor Roosevelt around campus, however; the friendship she developed with people like Queenable Turman, her physical education instructor, would last a lifetime. Evelyn was an AKA lifetime member. Evelyn was one of a few people to have two loves come to her life. The first was her high school sweetheart Samuel (Pete) Williams. With him, she gave birth to daughter, Stephanie. They moved to Denver in 1955 where new friends, the Griffins', the Keyes and Wendell T. Liggins of Zion Baptist church became part of their daily lives. Reverend Liggins' voice carried through the pulpit and down the street when he visited their home. Dr. Bernard F. Gipson Sr. made house calls 'back in the day' when families like hers became ill. Cousin Frances moved to Denver soon after Evelyn and Pete settled in to help with raising Stephanie. Because of Evelyn's love of people, she brought into her family the first of her 'adoptive' children, Lois, a young girl of 19 needing help and guidance. Lois stayed at their home and became Stephanie's babysitter until she was able to manage on her own. Evelyn made sure Stephanie had dresses to compliment her own style and both Evelyn and Stephanie were in a number of fashion shows in the Denver area. Evelyn was awarded one of the 'Ten best dressed women' of Denver 3 years in a row in the 1980s. She also taught dance to Stephanie's local Girl Scout troop. When Evelyn and Pete moved into their first home, Marianne and Joe Pipkin were neighbors and became close friends, which prompted her to have family call on their son Mark and daughter, Sherry, to supervise her Home Going celebration. Evelyn was an outspoken individual and participated in fund raisers, typically raising the largest amounts of money with her 'persuasive' style. That persuasiveness was apparent in her position as a top collections agent for the Internal Revenue Service in Denver. She was the instrumental lead for the fledgling Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. IRS granted her another lifelong friendship with Laura Williams, a revenue agent and when Laura married J.B. Williams, another bond was made to Antioch Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Samuel "Pete" Williams passed away in 1974 leaving a widow who found an unlikely relationship with Elton Alexander. That relationship turned into a deep abiding friendship and love. They married for 39 years. Elton brought to the marriage three children, Sharon, Wayne and Larry. Evelyn made them her own. Evelyn 'adopted' a number of children to her fold over the years. However, Vera Greer and Marion Winfrey were two people who became bound to her family as her own for life. J. B. Williams retired from Antioch Church, which gave rise to the final church that would lead Evelyn home. Reverend Dr. Jules and Reverend Ida Smith of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church provided friendship, love and the rewarding spiritual leadership that helped make this strong woman an even stronger presence in her final transition to walk with God to his home. Elton and Evelyn became members November 2007, where Evelyn later became an active member of the Church Mother's Ministry. The family, who will carry on in memory and heart are husband, Elton A. Alexander; her daughters, Stephanie Hobson and Sharon Holland; her sons Larry and Wayne Alexander; her granddaughters, Anthony Quinn, Chante Thomas, Michael Hobson and Teresa Hobson, her aunt, Barbara Dillard, her cousins, George Starke, great grandchildren Jordan and Jaylene, Kendle, Cassandra, Chloe, Azsia, Sayvion as well as many more grandchildren and great grandchildren, relatives, 'adoptive children' and friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremations - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Visitation: 5/23/2014 at 4:00 AM - Pipkin Braswell - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 5/24/2014 at 10:00 AM - Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church - 1500 SO Dayton Street, Denver, CO
Service: 5/23/2014 at 7:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 5/24/2014 at 12:15:00 PM - Ft. Logan National Cemetery - Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 5/24/2014 - Following interment Rising Star Missonary Baptist Church - 1500 SO Dayton Street, Denver, CO