Jessie Evelyn Smith was born in Arkansas, September 18th, 1923. She passed away November 5th, 2012. She also had one sister, Ouida Epps, who coincidentally passed away one day after Evelyn’s death, on November 6th, 2012.
“Evelyn”, as she was known, grew up living in various locales: Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio, and finally, Florida. She was about 15 years old when her family moved to Tampa. She attended Hillsborough High School. she excelled at stenography. She was quiet, very intelligent, and kind to everyone. In school, she acquired many long-time friends.
Not far from where Evelyn, her sister, and her mother lived, was an empty garage, which was used by the local kids to lift weights, and exercise. It was there that she met the love of her life, Sheldon Overton. He enjoyed weight training, and was lean, strong, and deadly good-looking! Evelyn herself was beautiful, and had been approached by someone she later worked with at Republic Pictures, who offered her a spot in Hollywood, based on her looks alone.
She and Sheldon fell instantly in love, and remained true sweethearts until the day she died. They were married just short of 72 years. They traveled extensively, predominately in the American West, and the Rocky Mountain region. Her children, Rhonda and Shelley, grew up knowing Colorado like the back of their hands. She and Sheldon provided their daughters with a wonderful environment in which to grow and flourish.
In the early 1950’s, Evelyn became interested in the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and she knew she had found the truth about God and His kingdom. She dedicated herself to His service, being baptized September 22nd, 1956. She was an active and faithful witness for as long as she lived. Her husband followed suit, being baptized the following year.
In her life, Evelyn was vivacious, happy, and purposeful. She enjoyed tennis and swimming when she was younger. She collected beautiful antiques. she loved traveling, and was a superb cook and seamstress. She adored her pet cats, they brought much joy into her life.
Evelyn wholeheartedly believed in the resurrection to a paradise earth. We, her husband and children, hope and pray we will be there to see her again. With her passing, a deep emotional wound has torn our hearts apart. the pain is nearly impossible to bear. Having wonderful friends who really care, has made it more bearable. Thank you so much for being here to share this memorial of Evelyn’s life with us. Thank you for your kind thoughts and gestures; they mean the world to us.
Survivors include her husband, Owen Sheldon Overton; two daughters, Rhonda Overton-Avery and Shelley J. Overton; nephew, Randy Segars, as well as additional family.
A memorial service will be 3:00 PM, Saturday, December 8, 2012 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 11730 North Ola Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612-4159.
Please sign the guestbook below.
Veterans Funeral Care, 727-524-9202
How terrible for all of you to lose Jessie Evelyn and Ouida in the same week! Your family is in my prayers–I know God will strengthen you in this most difficult of times!
Rhonda and family- I am so sorry for your loss. I know how loved your mother was and how much she meant to you and I send you my most sincere and loving wishes for peace in your heart. I know how you are suffering. I can only think how difficult it will be to lose my own mother. Know I am thinking about you and your family and again, my most sincere condolences.
Know it your heart that when your mom wakes up from her rest it will be a better place and Jehovah will restore her energy and zest for life.
Shelley and Rhonda, my sincere sympathies for your loss. I know how important your mother was to both of you. My thoughts are with you both, as well as your father, during this most difficult of times.
Our thoughts and our prayers are with Ronda, Shelly, and “Sparky”. Be assured of our love and concern for your health and spiritual well-being. We wish we could attend the Memorial Service. We share with you the real hope provided by Christ Jesus, when he says “Come on out Evelyn, from your deep sleep, into a righteous new world. May you take comfort in this hope that your mother and father shared. Do everything in your power to be there to greet her. Take it slowly step by step and you will succeed. May Jehovah bless your efforts to please him.
We are so sorry for the pain that the great enemy of all, “death”, has brought upon your family. But we rejoice in the hope that we shared with your wonderful mother, Evelyn , that this enemy will soon be brought to nothing and we will once again enjoy our friendship with her in the
coming resurrection. May Jehovah bring peace to
your family in this time of loss.
Our hearts and prayers go out to Shelley and her family during this time.
My best wishes and love to you and your family. i never knew your mom but she certainly sounds like a lovely woman who lived a full and loving life.
We are so sorry for your loss…We can only find comfort and hope in the resurrection, and look to the time when death no longer takes away our loved one.
Evelyn planted a seed of Truth in my mother’s heart that took a while to grow…but it did grow. I am so thankful she was there at a difficult time in my mom’s life. And of course Evelyn’s efforts helped bring me the truth too, for which a am eternally grateful!
May Jehovah’s peace comfort you.