Timothy Wayne Evatt

Timothy "Tim" Wayne Evatt, age 60, of Pendleton, South Carolina, went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 29, 2026. Born and raised in Pendleton, Tim earned the nickname "The Man, The Myth, The Legend" simply by the way he lived his life. He never met a stranger, always made time for people, and carried a positivity that followed him wherever he went. It was common knowledge that going anywhere in public with Tim was never quick. His family knew that errands turned into conversations and then conversations turned into reunions. Every time, he never failed to remember each name, face, and story along the way. Tim was friendly, upbeat, and always ready to talk… always. His surfer-style phrases like "hey dude" and "that's rad" made even serious moments feel a little lighter, even if his two children loved to pick on him for it.

Tim earned his BA in Political Science from Clemson University in 1991 and his Juris Doctor from the University of SC in 1993. He held a long-standing career as an attorney for the Anderson County Department of Social Services before retiring in 2011. He then achieved his Masters of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary in 2013.

Known to some as "TW Shark" (because every good lawyer needs a cool nickname), Tim truly believed most problems could be solved with the right words and a smile. Though he had been paralyzed for many years, he never let that define him, and most people quickly forgot he was not sitting by choice. What defined Tim was his love for his wife, second only to his love for the Lord, his family, humor, kindness, and his ability to make people feel important. He checked in, remembered birthdays, and showed up whenever and however he could. To his family, he was the talker, the encourager, and the hype man. To his grandson, he was proudly Papa T, a role he loved deeply. Those who knew Tim will remember his grin, his never-ending stories, and the way he made ordinary moments better, usually by making them funny.

Tim is survived by the love of his life and wife of 21 years, Rhonda Evatt, daughter and son-in-law, Nathan and Cierra Leopard of Pendleton, son, Landon Evatt of Maui, HI, grandson, Bentley "Little Dude" Leopard, sister and brother-in-law, Larry and Susan Martin, and brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Suzanne Evatt. He was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Evatt. In place of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Tim's honor to the The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

A service to celebrate Tim's Life will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at NewSpring Church, East Auditorium, in Anderson. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 2:45 p.m. prior to the service.

Sullivan-King Mortuary