OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
January 15, 2020
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Moore and Harris, a resolution honoring the life and memory of Reverend Clay Evans.
Your favorable consideration ofthis resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly your:
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RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the death on November 27, 2019, at age 94, of the Reverend Doctor Clay Evans, a Baptist pastor, gospel singer, and civil rights leader who founded Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Clay Evans was born on June 23, 1925, in Brownsville, Tennessee, to Henry Clay and Estanauly Evans. After moving to Chicago in 1945, Reverend Evans attended seminary school at the Chicago Baptist Institute. He later attended the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and the University of Chicago Divinity School; and
WHEREAS, Clay Evans was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1950 and founded Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in September of that year with five other members. In 1959, the Churph moved to its current location in Fuller Park; and
WHEREAS, After fifty years of dedicated service, Clay Evans retired as pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in 2000. Following his retirement, Reverend Evans continued to hold an active schedule of ministry and participation in community events; and
WHEREAS, Clay Evans joined the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. in promoting the civil rights movement in Chicago, and helped to found Operation PUSH, an organization dedicated to improving the economic conditions of black communities across the United States; and
WHEREAS, Clay Evans served as the founding National Board Chairman of Operation PUSH from 1971 to 1976, later becoming Chairman Emeritus and serving on its board of directors until his death; and
WHEREAS, Clay Evans founded the Broa...
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