Evelyn Youngblood

Evelyn Calhoun Youngblood, 104, passed away Nov. 28, 2016. She died peacefully in her sleep at Park Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility. She recently celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday with her family, whom she loved and treasured above all, save her Lord. She is predeceased by her husband, James Kyser Youngblood; her daughter, Evelyn Youngblood Bishop; and her grandson, Stephen Pierce. Born Evelyn Agnes Calhoun to Andrew Pickens Calhoun and Agnes Bridges Calhoun on Sept. 4, 1912, in Laurel, Mississippi, when she was two the family moved back to her father's home of Carlowville in south Dallas County. She graduated from Carlowville High School in 1930 and matriculated through the Alabama Teacher's College, now the University of Montevallo, where she was on the women's basketball team, and graduated in 1934. She taught school in several regions of the state and received promotions until holding the position of Assistant Supervisor for Vocational Home Economics for the State of Alabama. In May 1940, she married James Kyser Youngblood, a prominent farmer in Carlowville. They lived in Carlowville until his death in 1966. Evelyn loved teaching, and taught science, math, home economics, piano, and art to many people in Selma and Dallas County. She became quite an accomplished artist, painting in watercolors, oils, and pastels. A gifted musician, she played the organ and piano beautifully. In recent weeks she could be found sitting at the piano at the activity room playing her favorite hymns. Her soprano voice never failed her. When she could do nothing else, she could sing. She was a faithful and devoted member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Carlowville, where she was assistant organist, until 1975 when she moved to Selma and affiliated with St. Paul's Episcopal Church Selma. She served in the choir, on the altar guild, was a devoted member of the St. Paul's Ladies Sewing Guild, providing generations of beautiful handmade and smocked clothes for children. She was a member of the Colonial Dames, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Evelyn will long be remembered for her sweet, unassuming spirit, her Christian faith, and her love of art and all things fresh and beautiful. She is survived by her children, James Kyser Youngblood (Patsy), Jr., Dr. Beekman Lee Youngblood, Ann Youngblood Rottman, her grandchildren Teresa Butler (Steve), Julie Rudd, Travis Youngblood, Sarah Youngblood, Kyser Horne (Jason), Dr. Beekman Lee Youngblood, IV (Rebecca), Gray Calhoun Youngblood (Jennifer), Lynsay Ward, a special step-granddaughter, Jill Ferguson (Tommy), 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter. Visitation will be Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at 1 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Funeral services will be at 2:00 with burial to follow at St. Paul's Carlowville with Selma Funeral Home Directing and the Rev. Jack Alvey officiating. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to Arts REvive or the charity of your choice.