Evelyn Fields Cosgriff

Evelyn Fields Cosgriff, age 75, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 17, 2025. She was surrounded by her two loving daughters at the time of her passing.

Evelyn was born January 1, 1950, in Whitesburg, Kentucky as the ninth of seventeen children. She was a graduate of Whitesburg High School and received her associate degree from Hazard Community College. Following school, Evelyn moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where she married and started a career in television broadcasting. Soon after, she moved to Louisville where her two daughters were born and embarked on a successful career as a paralegal for a prominent Louisville law firm. A few years later Evelyn and her family relocated to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Evelyn would eventually move back to Whitesburg, Kentucky to work for The Appalshop, a local nonprofit dedicated to documenting, disseminating, and revitalizing the lasting traditions and contemporary creativity of Appalachian culture.

Evelyn played an important role for many members of her family starting at a young age. Family was always her top priority. When time permitted, Evelyn’s joy was a quiet place with a good book.

Evelyn Cosgriff is preceded in death by her parents, Nelson and Phoebe Fields, and siblings James Fields, Howard Fields, Orell Fields, Ralph Fields, Richard Fields, Delmer Fields, Gary Fields, and Betty Melissa Howard.

Survivors include her loving daughters, Andrea Cosgriff, Ashley Manuel, son-in-law Leo Manuel; eight siblings, Rex Fields, Dean Fields, Kathryn Hoskins, Ella Caudill, Juanita Caudill, Janet Napier, Libby Honeycutt and Helen Roberts; many nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.

Religious services will be held at Little Cowan Primitive Baptist Church of Whitesburg on Friday May 30, 2025 at 11 am, burial will follow in The Fields’ Family Cemetery.