James W. "Jimmy" Evans

James W. “Jimmy” Evans, 74 and longtime resident of Echols County, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at the Lake City Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Lake City. He was born in Live Oak, Florida, the fourth of six children to the late Kenneth Vann Evans and Eula Mae Barfuss. Mr. Evans was raised in Live Oak and was a graduate of Suwannee High School class of 1970. Following high school, he served our country in the United States Army for four years before starting his 40 year career in Industrial Construction and retiring as superintendent with Hunt Construction. Mr. Evans enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family and many beloved dogs through the years including “Dixie” and “Chopper”. He was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law, Jesse and Mary Epperson; his grandparents, William “Bill” Brock and Candaisy E. Brock; two siblings, Paulette Lashley and Tanya “Toni” Collins; one brother in law, Joe Lashley; and one grandson, Braeden James Waller.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Marion Epperson Evans, Lake Park, GA; his children, Alicia Waller (David) of Lake City and James Ryan Evans (Genia Gray) of Lake Park, GA; his siblings, Randall “Jack” Evans (Barbara) of Fargo, GA, Sandra Goodson (Kermit) and Eula “Midge” Starling (Johnnie) both of Lake City; brother-in-law, Johnny Collins of Lake City, Marvin Epperson (Carol) of Brandon, FL and Jesse Epperson of Lake Park, GA; sister-in-law, Sarah Butts (Ricky) of Live Oak; three grandchildren, Skylar Waller of Panama City Beach, Trace Waller of Crawfordville and Harrison Waller (Shelley) of Santa Rosa Beach; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Mr. Evans will be conducted on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM in the Gateway-Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel with Dr. Mike Tatem of Parkview Baptist Church officiating. Private interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. A time of visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.