Lelia Jane Shields Evans

Follower of Christ • Devoted Mother & Wife • Infinite Love for All • An Angel of the First Degree

Surrounded by her husband of 57 years, her four children, and many of her grandchildren, Lelia Jane Shields Evans entered her eternal home on September 29, 2025, at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was 79 years old.

Lelia was born in Danville, Virginia on October 13, 1945, the daughter of Langhorne M. Shields and Vera Hunt Shields. Lelia grew up on White Oak Mountain Farm near Tightsqueeze Virginia, where the Shields family had lived since at least 1800. Her earliest memory of her husband, Stewart Evans, is from a May Day celebration when she was in the third grade and he was in the fourth grade.

She graduated from Chatham High School in 1964, where she excelled at everything, including placing first in a Virginia Group III Latin test. Stewart and Lelia fell in love while in High School in the spring of 1962.

Lelia attended Mary Washington College from which she graduated in 1968 with a BA in Psychology. Lelia and Stewart married on June 22, 1968. Lelia taught school in Albemarle County Virginia from 1969 through 1972 to support Stewart while he attended law school at the University of Virginia. During this time Lelia continued her studies at the University of Virginia and received her Masters in Education with an emphasis on reading in 1971.

In August of 1972, Lelia and Stewart camped out across the United States with their ten-month old daughter, Sarah, on their way to Los Angeles where Stewart clerked for Robert J. Kelleher, United States District Court Judge. Lelia and Stewart settled in Fairfax, Virginia in September 1973.

Lelia lived a life of unwavering faith in the Resurrected Jesus with a fierce devotion to her family, and shared her love with many, especially those who needed Motherly love. A follower of Christ from her earliest years, she taught and loved children through volunteering her time, talent, and love in the church Nursery, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible School. She served on the Altar Guild, Wedding Guild, and Funeral Guild for decades. She embodied the fruits of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Her life was a witness to the Grace of God and the power of love.

During her final days, Room 32, Weinberg 4D at Johns Hopkins became a sanctuary — filled with laughter, music, prayer, and the unmistakable presence of the Holy Spirit. Her family danced with her to her favorite songs (“Three Little Birds,” “Be Thou My Vision,” “Crazy Love,” “Moondance”, and “Tupelo Honey”), swapped stories and memories, and formed what they called “The Lelia” — a hug swarm of healing and holy laughter.

Even as she prepared to leave this world, Lelia gave her children, including her adopted children, and her grandchildren a parting gift, her wisdom: she requested that each of them follow Jesus, love one another, and celebrate her passing with joy, not sadness; and her humor (“this speech is going on too long, I know”). The way she lived her life challenges us to live as she did, following Christ, loving deeply and easily, always thinking of others first, and serving joyfully.

Her marriage to Stewart Evans was a testimony in itself. They recognized one another as “The One” when they were 16 going on 17 and together built a beautiful life — full of ups and downs but anchored in an unshakable foundation of Christ and love. He never left her side during her ten days at Hopkins, moving his bed next to hers so they could whisper sweet everythings to one another. They shared many hugs and kisses during those ten days.

Lelia’s life touched countless others: her church friends, her beloved “Lovelies,” her Bridge group, her neighbors, her fellow cancer warriors, and the many “adopted” children whom she loved as her own. Messages poured in from across the country, testifying to her love and her encouragement, and how she changed lives just by being herself.

Her family calls her final days an “extra time luxury”— nothing left unsaid, everything suffused with grace. She spoke of running “at a full sprint into the arms of Jesus” with a radiant smile. A nurse told the family, “You die the way you live,” and Lelia died beautifully, with dignity and grace and continuing with her gift of thinking of others first.

Lelia is survived by her loving husband Kerr Stewart Evans Jr.; her children Sarah Elizabeth (Evans) Eiler (with husband Derek), Kerr Stewart Evans, III, Lelia Jessie (Evans) Goodwin (with husband Dan), and John Langhorn Raleigh Evans (with wife Raquel); her grandchildren Ryan Eiler, Sofia Evans, Kelsey Eiler, Lila Evans, Kerr Stewart Evans IV, and Grace Goodwin; and her extended family of adopted children, cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless others. Lelia’s parents, Langhorne M. Shields and Vera Hunt Shields preceded her in death.

Lelia’s legacy is a call to action: to follow Christ, to freely love others, but not their sin, and to transform others by your example and unconditional love.

A service to celebrate Lelia’s life will be held in Fairfax, Virginia on Saturday November 22, 2005, The Church of the Good Sheperd at 11 AM at 9350 Braddock Road, Burke, VA 22015 with a reception to follow in the Grand Hall. Lelia will be buried at Red House Church, 13409 NC 119 N, Semora, North Carolina, with a small graveside service around 1:00 p.m. the following day. Friends and family are invited to gather in worship, to tell stories, and to join in song as we rejoice that Lelia is dancing now with the Cloud of Witnesses.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to either the John Hopkins’ Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service at https://secure.jhu.edu/form/KGOS or the Red House Cemetery Fund, c/o Jack Pointer, 501 Jack Pointer Road, Semora, NC 27343.