EVELYN DAVIS RAPER
May 31, 1932-Aug. 1, 2018
Evelyn Davis Raper passed away peacefully Wednesday morning at Wayne UNC Health Care, with her loving and caring family at her side.
Born May 31, 1932, in Greene County, she was the oldest daughter of the late Robert Harvey Davis and the late Winifred Evelyn Whitted Davis.
She was also predeceased by her much loved husband, Frank E. Raper Sr., to whom she was married for 57 years and by an infant brother, Robert Aaron Davis.
A lifelong Baptist, Evelyn was a member of First Baptist Church of Goldsboro for over 46 years. She loved her church and was a very active member, having taught several Sunday School classes, both youth and adult. Serving on numerous church committees, she served 3 terms on the board of deacons.
Raised in Duplin County, Evelyn graduated from Warsaw High School in 1950, and earned her B.S. degree in Home Economics from East Carolina College in 1954. She later earned and received a master of education degree from North Carolina State University.
Evelyn was a Vocational Home Economics Teacher at Grantham High School in Wayne county from 1954 to 1958, when she resigned to marry and leave the state. Evelyn and Frank returned to Goldsboro in 1964 and in 1968 she joined the staff of the Wayne County Cooperative Extension Service as an Extension Home Economist and field faculty of North Carolina State University, a position she was to hold for twenty-eight years.
She was a strong advocate for life-long learning, community service, leadership development and volunteerism. She considered herself privileged to have worked with many groups and individuals and always the people of Wayne county to be its most valuable resource. She especially enjoyed her role as liaison agent to the Wayne County Extension Homemakers Association.
Evelyn was very active in her professional associations holding various offices and serving on numerous committees. She was awarded their highest honor, that of Distinguished Service, on both the state and national levels. She was very proud of the awards and recognitions from various county groups. In 1999, she was inducted into the Wayne County Agriculture Hall of Fame and the newly constructed Learning Center at the Wayne Center was named in her honor.
Following their retirement, Frank and Evelyn enjoyed extensive travels across the United States and to many other countries. What they enjoyed most was time spent with their children and grandchildren attending each school, church and sports event, holiday, birthday celebrations and summer vacations. They also enjoyed treasured time with family and friends.
Evelyn was a devoted mother and grandmother and leaves to cherish her memory, three sons and their families:
Frank E. Jr and wife, Stephanie, and their children, Steve, Abbey and Colin, of Pueblo, CO; Robert Michael "Mike" and wife, Shannon, and their children, Ann-Marie, Adrienne and Gracie, of Goldsboro; David Alan and wife, Virginia "Ginny," and their children, Rocco, Sadie and Sullivan "Sully," of Goldsboro.
Evelyn is also survived by a sister, Marjorie Davis Jackson and husband, Ray, of Lake Lure, N.C., and their children, Julie, Joey & Derick; three sisters-in-law, Lynn Raper Whiteford, of Greenville, Kathryn Raper Pittman, of Kinston and Doris Boykin Raper, of Rocky Mount; and her canine companion, Charley.
A service to celebrate her life will be Friday at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Goldsboro . The family will receive friends in the Elsie Hooks Fellowship Hall from 1 to 3 p.m.
Those wishing to make a memorial gift are requested to consider The Child Development Center at First Baptist Church, 125 S. John St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530.
The family business, Raper Drugs, will be closing on Friday at 2 p,m, to allow the staff to attend her service.
Online condolences may be directed to the Raper family at www.shumate-faulk.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on August 2, 2018 8:05 AM