John Haywood Evans, Jr., 80, of Rocky Mount passed away on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. He was born January 6, 1941 in Durham to the late Lois Stanley Evans and John Haywood Evans, Sr.
The family moved to Rocky Mount when Haywood was 9 years old. He loved sports and was an outstanding pitcher in little league and pony league. He attended Rocky Mount Senior High and graduated in 1959. Haywood was an honor student and chosen as one of the top 10 graduates in his class, was Vice President of the National Honor Society, Kiwanis Boy of the Month, AAA All-Conference Basketball, Eastern AAA Scoring Champion, Co-Captain of Basketball Team.
He attended Davidson College on a basketball scholarship and was coached by “Lefty” Driesell, Southern Conference Coach of the Year. He was also Co-Captain of the Golf Team. Haywood graduated from Davidson in 1963 and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, earning an MBA.
Later while working in financial management, he studied for and successfully passed both parts of the CPA exam the first time he sat for them. He prepared tax returns for 40 years and had many loyal clients who became good friends.
Haywood was an active member of First Baptist Church for 47 years. He was a Deacon, on the Finance and Insurance Committees, an Usher, and Treasurer of his Sunday school department.
Haywood is survived by his wife of 47 years Jean Lawson Evans of the home, his son John Evans of Williston, NC, step-mother Scott Evans Hughes of Durham, his sisters Betsy Evans Batchelor of Greer, SC, and Scottie Evans Chastain of Ft. Mill, SC, his grandchildren, Kendra Rhodes of Sea Level, NC, and Eden and Farah Evans of Harkers Island, NC.
A graveside service will be held at the Crewe Cemetery in Crewe, Virginia at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 9, 2021. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, at 2:00 p.m. on April 15 with Rev. Bill Grisham and Rev. Luke Lunceford officiating.
Visitation will follow in the church narthex. Contributions may be made to: Friends of Hospice, Nash UNC Healthcare, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27803.
Arrangements are being made by Staples Funeral Home, Victoria VA.
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