[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF THE MEMORY OF ORIGINAL MONTFORD POINT MARINE SGT. EARL 
                            EVAN, JR., USMC

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                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 21, 2012

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory 
of original Montford Point Marine Sgt. Earl Evans, Jr., USMC.
  I was honored to host Mr. Evans here in the Capitol the day the House 
voted on the Congressional Gold Medal for the Montford Point Marines. I 
was lucky enough to have lunch with him that day and was able to listen 
to how proud he was to have served his nation. A picture from that day 
sits on my desk right now. He was in the House gallery when the final 
vote of 415 0 was completed and all the Members of this body turned to 
give him and other Montford Point Marines a standing ovation.
  Deacon Earl Evans, Jr., son of the late Earl J. Evans and Delcie 
Alston Ogburn, was born on September 25, 1929, in Greensboro, North 
Carolina. He departed this life on February 14, 2012.
  Earl received his formal education in the Greensboro, North Carolina, 
public school system. Because of his love for the military, he joined 
the United States Marine Corps in September 1946. During his years of 
active service, he attained the rank of Sergeant and deployed to places 
such as Guam and Korea. Earl's plans as a career Marine ended in 1953 
due to injuries sustained while in combat. He received numerous awards 
and citations including the Purple Heart Medal, Navy Unit Commendation 
Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense 
Service Medal, Korea Service Medal with one Silver Star, Republic of 
Korea Presidential Unit Award, United Nations Service Medal, and the 
Combat Action Ribbon. He retired from the Marine Corps on July 8, 1953, 
with an Honorable Discharge.
  Upon being discharged from military service and returning home, he 
met and married the love of his life Madie Louise Vines of Greensboro, 
North Carolina. This union was blessed with two daughters, Ramona and 
Frenita.
  Earl dedicated over 34 years of Federal Service which included seven 
years as a Special Policeman for the District Government and 25 years 
with the Veterans' Benefits Office in Washington, DC, from which he 
retired.
  Earl was a fervent believer in Christ. He joined Bethesda Baptist 
Church on October 26, 1958, and served in the following ministries: 
Male Chorus, Sunday School, Williams Memorial Bible Class, Men's 
Ministry, Leader of Prayer Group 22, Baptist Training Union, Vacation 
Bible School, Club 66, the Old Timer's Quartet and numerous activities. 
He was ordained as a Deacon under the late Pastor, Reverend John D. 
Bussey.
  Earl truly loved life and possessed many talents. He was a creative 
and intellectual person. He memorized Bible verses and always found 
things to invent around the house. His other gifts included sewing, 
cooking, singing, composing music, playing instruments, writing many 
poems and speeches, often at the request of others. He was an avid 
fisherman and gardener.
  He always stayed involved in one activity or another. Earl 
volunteered locally at his neighborhood Ardmore Village Association as 
a Block Captain. He was a life member of the Disabled American 
Veterans, H Chapter 7 of Bowie, Maryland, and the Montford Point Marine 
Association, Chapter 6 of Washington, DC.
  Earl leaves to cherish his memory, a devoted wife, Madie; two 
daughters, Ramona Reed-Sellman of Capital Heights, Maryland, Frenita 
(Clarence) Hope of Silver Spring, Maryland; nine grand-children and 
twelve great-grandchildren. Also, he leaves behind, a sister-in-law and 
brother-in-law, Lavalle and Hugo Hendricks of Palm Coast, Florida, and 
Reverend Chester (Beverly) Burke, Jr., and a host of other relatives 
and friends.

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