Billy Joe Evans

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Billy Joe Evans, 92, of Fordyce, AR, died January 18 at St. John’s Place in Fordyce. The son of Oma and Noel Evans, he was born May 9, 1926. He graduated from Thornton High School and spent 68 years on the same acre of land outside of Thornton where German Shepherds, horses, cows, and pigs could be found.

Ordained on December 31, 1950, he served as pastor to the following congregations in south Arkansas: Dickinson Baptist Church at Harrell; Canaan Baptist Church at Harrell; Antioch Baptist Church at Hampton; Cross Roads Baptist Church at Warren; Bethel #1 Baptist Church at Rison; Chapel Hill Baptist Church at New Edinburg; Bethesda Baptist Church near Fordyce; Faustina Baptist Church at Hampton; Woodberry Baptist Church at Hampton; Pleasant Grove Baptist Church at El Dorado; and Maul Baptist Church at Camden. After 63 years of active ministry, he retired on September 1, 2013, and joined First Baptist Church Fordyce.

As a bi-vocational minister, Billy worked at Georgia-Pacific Corporation as a purchasing agent for 42 years until his retirement in 1991, owned and operated Evans Monument Company for 54 years, and enjoyed teaching singing schools, reading, and piddling around the farm.

His love of gospel singing led to meeting a piano player named Kittye Jo Curtis who married him on April 21, 1955. They became Joe Daddy and Jo Mama to two children who survive him: Cheryl Collins of Herndon, VA, and Curtis (Melissa) Evans of North Muskegon, MI.

He was known and loved as “Papa” to his grandchildren Geoffrey (Jamie), Christopher (Jordan), Matthew, and Emily Evans; and great-grandchildren Joelle and Maia, all of MI. He was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law Don Collins.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Benton Funeral Home, Fordyce. Funeral services will be Monday at 2:00 pm at Benton Funeral Home, Fordyce. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Fordyce, 501 North Main Street, Fordyce, AR 71742.