Brethren and friends, we gather in the light of our Lord to bid a fond and celebratory farewell to a child of God, a beacon of wisdom, and a vessel of His boundless love, Sister Laverne Kay Evans, known affectionately among us as Kay. On the sixteenth day of January in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and fourth nine the good Lord saw fit to bless the city of Galveston, Texas, with the birth of Kay. And it was in the warm embrace of San Antonio, Texas, that Kay was called to her eternal rest on the twentieth day of December, two thousand and twenty-four.

Kay was the cherished progeny of Lee E. Evans and Leola V. Evans, and the beloved sibling to brothers Reginald Wayne Evans and Hillary Darnell Evans, all of whom preceded her in joining the celestial choir. She was a luminary in the field of education, an honor graduate from Central High School in the class of 1966. With an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Kay furthered her education at Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas, where she earned her bachelor's degree. Her academic journey did not cease there, as she ascended to greater heights, procuring a master's degree in elementary education from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.

Sister Kay's vocation was a testament to her profound commitment to nurturing young minds. Her tenure as an elementary school teacher was marked by passion, dedication, and the kind of excellence that earned her the distinguished title of Teacher of the Year on multiple occasions. Her impact on the lives of countless children is a legacy that will ripple through generations, a testament to her unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.

But oh, dear friends, it was not just within the walls of the classroom that Sister Kay's light shone brightly. She served as the superintendent of Sunday school at Shiloh AME Church, where she did not merely teach, but taught teachers how to impart the wisdom of the Bible to their students. Her commitment to her faith was unyielding; she attended every church meeting, every local, conference, and the 10th Episcopal District from the State of Texas, and all Connectional meetings of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, to become an officer on the General Board Many a times visiting all 21 districts.

Kay's life was a melody of service, a symphony of faith, and a testament to the love she bore for her community and her God. She walked in the footsteps of the Savior, teaching, leading, and inspiring, leaving behind a path illuminated with grace and compassion that we, too, might follow.

As we commend Sister Kay to the Lord's keeping, we rejoice in the knowledge that she has been welcomed into the everlasting arms of our Savior. We celebrate a life well-lived, a race well-run, and a faith well-kept. Sister Kay now joins the heavenly host, where there is no more sorrow, no more weeping, and where the heart no longer falters.

Let us hold fast to the memories, the lessons, and the love that Sister Laverne Kay Evans bestowed upon us. May her spirit continue to guide us, and may her legacy be as enduring as the stars in the Texas sky.Kay leaves to mourn her devoted neice Nakeshia R.Evans, Aamea Evans, Ashton Evans, grand neice and nephew.her beloved cousin A.Jean Wainwright, who was told by their parents "Kay, this your "Big Sister" and they both lived as if they were sisters. Deborah Evans,and Linda Evans, sisters in law. In the fullness of time, may we all be reunited in that place where the morning breaks eternal and the shadows flee away.

To God be the glory for the life of Sister Laverne Kay Evans.