Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2020-85

• Record #: R2020-85
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• Intro date: 1/15/2020
• Final action: 1/15/2020
• Title: Tribute to late Reverend Dr. Clay Evans
• Sponsors: Lightfoot, Lori E. , Harris, Michelle A., Moore, David H.

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
1/15/2020		City Council	Rules Suspended - Immediate Consideration
1/15/2020	12786	City Council	Adopted	Pass

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...