Evelyn Joyce Douglas Wyatt was welcomed into her heavenly home Friday evening, September 4, 2026. Evelyn was born to Mollie Douglas and Hubert Bryant on February 7, 1942, in Sanford, North Carolina. She spent most of her school years in Sanford where she attended W.B. Wicker school but moved to Queens, New York, and graduated from Newtown High School in Elmhurst, New York.

Evelyn met and married Arnold Wyatt of Bessemer, Alabama, at a young age and to their union, two children were born, Sheila Sabrina and Arnold Anthony. Family meant everything to Evelyn and although she was a faithful loving wife, most would say her two children were the loves of her life.

After finishing high school, Evelyn enrolled in beauty school in New York City but quickly decided it was not for her when she discovered she wouldn’t just style the hair but would also need to groom it! She worked other jobs including as a waitress in her aunt’s restaurant and as a seamstress.

During the early years of her marriage she was an excellent homemaker, running her home with grace, order, and expertise, especially during the many deployments her husband had while serving his country in the US Army. Together they laid temporary roots on Army bases both in the United States and Europe.

After Anthony began school and got a little older, Evelyn returned to the workforce where she began a civil service career as an Outdoor Recreation Manager in Babenhausen, Germany. After relocating from Germany, she worked in the stock market as a Switch Board Operator at Neuberger and Berman in New York City while her husband was deployed to Turkey. This is the job that she was most excited about when asked about her career. She always wished that she could have stayed with that company.

After being stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Evelyn began working as a Cashier at the Fort Campbell Commissary where countless customers grew to love her and refer to her as their favorite Cashier. To this day, former customers still talk to her children about her being their favorite and how they would wait in line bypassing other Cashiers, just to go through her line. She spent many years at the Commissary before retiring in 2005.

Evelyn was introduced to Christ at a young age and attended many churches in her lifetime, the first being Chestnut AME Zion in Sanford, North Carolina. Over the years she was also a member of Shaw AME Zion in Corona, New York; Chapel Six at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Greenhill Baptist Church, New Salem Full Gospel Baptist Church, and Christ the Healer, all of Clarksville, Tennessee. She always served in whatever church she attended, most notably as an Usher, Hospitality Staff Member, and Church Mother. Her faith was strong and knowing that she’s rejoicing in her true home with her Lord and Savior is what gives her children courage to continue without her physical presence.

To know Evelyn truly was to love her. She had an easy way of making those she met feel special. She had a heart of gold and did so much for so many, often without needing or wanting recognition. Her children’s close friends all think of her as a second mom rather than just their friend’s mom. She was kind and

loving, but do not step out of line, because she’d quickly direct you back to your place! She was the epitome of style, grace, class, and beauty.

She was competitive when it came to sales or raising money for whatever event or organization in question, including for her various church functions and her children’s projects.

She was an accomplished savvy cook, often preparing three meals a day for her family. She was an excellent baker, frequently being requested to make a variety of her delectable homemade cakes and pies and she’s the reason her kids never really got used to eating packaged baked goods. She had a quick wit, with a touch of sass and a smile that brightened any room. She loved to set the standard for beauty and style, being renowned for her elegance and an extensive collection of clothing, jewelry, and hats. The bigger and more flamboyant the hat, the better! And whatever hat she wore, she had a way of making it look like it was especially designed for her.

She enjoyed spending time with her children in whatever their interests were at the time. She was a Cub Scout Leader for her son’s troop, a soccer mom for her son’s team, and watched countless car shows with her son because that is his passion. With her daughter, she shopped, played Bunco, entertained and prepared foods for the many events her daughter liked to host, and traveled extensively with her both in the United States and abroad. The two were best buds and loved to see what shenanigans they could engage in, much to the dismay of her husband! She was also a founding member of her Golden Girls Group, a member of the Bunco Divas, as well as various other organizations.

The last five years of Evelyn’s life weren’t the easiest. She went into the hospital during the Pandemic and almost immediately caught Covid and pneumonia, then went on dialysis during all of this. Although all significantly changed her lifestyle, her new situation didn’t steal her joy or alter her spirit. She lost her husband two years into this new journey. While he was no longer physically there to protect her, he continued to provide and her children devoted their time and energy to keeping Evelyn well cared for and out of a nursing home. Her son was her personal angel on earth, attending to whatever needs she had, ensuring she was as happy as she could be.

She was proud of both of her children for different reasons but had an extra dose of pride and admiration for how excellently her son served as her primary caregiver when she needed it the most.

Evelyn’s heart still beats, especially through her children, Sheila and Anthony, and through the many lives she touched. In addition to her children, she is also survived by her uncle, Hoyl Douglas, who is more like a brother; her brother, James Darymple; sisters-in-law, Gwendolyn Wyatt Freels and Mae Wyatt; bonus sister, Florence Grant; first cousins: Kimberly Douglas and Keith Douglas; a host of nieces and nephews, but especially Donald (Nerma) Wyatt Evans; Dionne (Brian) Evans Ellis; bonus children: James Garrick, Nicholas Newman, Earl Harris, Curtis Barnes, Louise Butler, Lenora Butler, Christine Butler, and Isabel Lewis; as well as her church family, friends, and other bonus children too many to name.

Her life ended on earth September 4, 2026, but just began in paradise a moment later. There is no doubt her Savior welcomed her with open arms and said, “Welcome thy good and faithful servant. Rest, your work on earth is done. You’re home now.”