Mrs. Claudette Marie Evans

Claudette's Story: On April 4, 1953 God released an angel from heaven and blessed the late Pastor Robert Richards Sr. and Auntia Richards with a beautiful baby girl and they named her CLAUDETTE MARIE RICHARDS. She was affectionately known as BOBO and there was never ever a lonely or a dull moment for BOBO because she was the seventh of eleven children and her childhood was full of love shared between all her brothers and sisters. Rev. Robert Richards Sr. was the founder and Pastor of St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church. He set the foundation of Christ in the family structure and CLAUDETTE RICHARDS confessed her life to Jesus Christ at the very young age of 5 years old and was baptized in 1958. CLAUDETTE grew up on Detroit’s eastside and was educated in the Detroit Public School System. In 1971, she graduated from Murray Wright High School. As a child CLAUDETTE shared her gift of singing soprano and singing lead soprano in the church choir alongside her brothers and sisters while her father ministered from the pulpit and her mother sat on the Mother’s Board on the front pew with a watchful eye. Her father passed down the special gift of singing to her and she passed down that gift to her children and granddaughter. Singing praises to Jesus and rejoicing in the Lord was always a part of every family function and get-togethers. CLAUDETTE shared her gift of singing in many church choirs. She attended Shiyloh Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Michael L. Sullivan. Years later she moved her membership to Miles Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor. Dr. Freddie C. Minor; where she was a faithful choir director. In the late 2000’s she moved her membership to Northwestern Community Baptist Church. In the fall of 1975 God allowed two souls to meet and a beautiful love story was waiting to unfold. A story about a kind of love that He blessed to never grow old or weak. MICHAEL and CLAUDETTE shared that special love and on November 3, 1984 this young couple looked into each other's eyes and said, "I Do." That was the day they made their greatest dream come true. Two hearts, one love, three children… all one accord. Two souls standing strong together; never stop loving and never let go. A love so true, that it must have been created blessed and sent from Heaven above.” Through the years CLAUDETTE developed a love for traveling with her husband. Summers were filled with family trips and they made sure their children and granddaughter were always included. MICHAEL and CLAUDETTE soon discovered a love for cruises and began to take annual cruise trips which they both looked forward to each and every year. Shopping was a long time hobby of CLAUDETTE’S and it was one of her favorite things to do. On line and off line, in town or out of town; she loved to shop for herself and others in need. She always got a joy from sharing with others; especially her family. Her heart was as big as her smile. Like all God’s angels, CLAUDETTE always found joy in helping others and found her career in the medical field and worked over 30 years at Detroit city hospitals. She began her career at North Detroit General Hospital and moved on to Henry Ford Hospital. Because of her love for children and family structure, she took a break from the medical field and began working for Spectrum Human Services. For over four years, she mentored young troubled teens by helping, nurturing, guiding and preparing many wards of the state of Michigan youth for the real world. Her most recent job of ten years was at DMC Receiving Hospital, where she worked diligently two weeks before her health failed her. On October 7, 2014 there was a moment in time so soft and sweet. The moment God called His angel CLAUDETTE back home and she walked to the throne and kneeled at his feet. God said, “Job well done.”

Mrs. Claudette Marie Evans

April 4, 1953 - October 7, 2014