Dr. Kathy Deen Evans

Obituary For Dr. Kathy Deen Evans

Kathy Deen Evans passed away on Friday, March 29, 2024 – on Good Friday of the Easter holiday, her favorite time of year. She was surrounded by her dear mother, her beloved children, and her best friend at the time of her passing.

Kathy was born on August 4, 1953, in Memphis, TN – the only child of Helen and James Evans. A lifelong and dedicated member of the Roman Catholic Church, Kathy was baptized at St. Anthony Catholic Church, attended St. Anthony Catholic School and Sacred Heart School, and graduated from Memphis Catholic High School in 1971. She pursued further education, graduating from Wheaton College (Norton, MA) in 1975 and earning a master’s degree from Peabody College (Nashville, TN) in 1976.

Kathy married Victor Abdullah on June 30, 1983. From this union three children were born: Victor in 1986, and twins Kathryn-Odeen and Joshua in 1987. Kathy was a most dedicated mother to her three beloved children, whom she raised with joy, love, and great pride. She worked hard to ensure that her children had everything they needed in life, praying for them every day and entrusting them to the grace of God.

She was thrilled to be called “Grandmother Kathy” by her four grandchildren, whom she enjoyed spending time with every chance she got. She loved taking them to parks, making pancakes for their breakfast, reading stories to them, and sharing words of love and encouragement with them.

She was a devoted daughter to her parents, dutifully caring for them throughout the different stages of their lives. In particular, her loving commitment to her mother Helen was known and respected by those in her community.

Kathy found her professional calling in early childhood education. She loved all children and always sought to improve the lives of children, especially those living in poverty. She worked in various early childhood education settings, including Tennessee State University’s Early Learning Center in Nashville and with Nashville Public Schools as a Kindergarten teacher. While building a thriving career and raising her children, Kathy simultaneously earned a Ph.D. in Education and Human Development from Vanderbilt University in 1996. From there she began a successful career in higher education at The University of Tennessee at Martin where she was a professor of early childhood education in the Department of Educational Studies. She retired in 2022 as the Director of Teacher Licensure and Field Placements in the Educational Studies Program at Rhodes College in Memphis.

Kathy pledged to the Kappa Lambda Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1989. She served on the board of Porter-Leath and was a volunteer at the Women's Foundation For A Greater Memphis. She was a parishioner at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Germantown, TN. She enjoyed classical and performing arts, traveling, spending quality time with her family and friends, and enjoying all the wonderful restaurants and cultural attractions her hometown of Memphis has to offer.

Those who love her will miss her sharp intellect, her engaging way of conversation, her sincere encouragement and love, her kind heart, and her warm smile.

Kathy is preceded in death by her great-grandmother, Odeen Hankins Nash; and her father, James O’Neil Evans. She is survived by those who will hold and cherish her memory: her mother, Helen Young Evans; her children, Victor Jerome Evans (Crystal Churchwell Evans), Kathryn-Odeen Evans (Nathan Madden), and Joshua O’Neil Evans (Felicia Alexander); her grandchildren, Clara Deen Madden, Bronx Alexander Evans, Victor Jerome Evans, Jr., and Julia Elizabeth Evans; and a loving collection of cousins, relatives, close friends, neighbors and colleagues.

Memorial services are arranged by R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home in Memphis. A visitation will take place on Friday, April 5 at 6:30 PM at R.S. Lewis Funeral Home on Vance Avenue in Memphis. The funeral will take place on Saturday, April 6 at 10:00 AM at St. Theresa Little Flower Catholic Church. A private burial will follow. Condolences can be sent to R.S. Lewis and will be passed on to the family. In place of flowers, please consider a donation in Kathy’s honor to Porter-Leath.

The family has scheduled a public viewing for Friday April 05, 2024 from 6:30 until 8:00pm at The Historic R. S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home 374 Vance Ave. Mass of Resurrection will be 10:00am Saturday April 06, 2024 at St. Therese-Little Flower Church 1644 Jackson Ave. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery 5668 Poplar Ave.