Obituaries

Grover M. Evans

Photo of Grover M. Evans
Dr. Grover M. Evans "Groovy Grover", 65, of Little Rock, formerly of Jonesboro, went to be with the Lord, Sunday, December 3, 2017 at Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute. Grover Evans was born on March 6, 1952, the first African American born at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro (Craighead County); he was named after the delivering doctor, Dr. Grover Poole. His parents were William Evans and Georgia Lee Holiday, and he had five younger siblings. Grover Evans is known throughout central and northeastern Arkansas for his political endeavors, sports accomplishments, and career as a motivational speaker. During his rehabilitation, Evans was exposed to several sports opportunities through the National Wheelchair Sports Association. He was an avid table tennis player and participated in several track-and-field wheelchair competitions. His greatest accolades, however, came in swimming. At ASU, he teamed up with a university swimming instructor who helped to perfect his swimming technique and established a training program for him. Evans went on to set several national and world swimming records. In Barcelona, Spain, in 1992, Evans became the first African American to swim on the U.S. Paralympic Team. He participated in several more Paralympics—as an alternate for the 1996 games in Atlanta, Georgia, and team member for the 2004 games in Athens, Greece, and the 2008 games in Beijing, China. In 1997, he was inducted into the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame. During this time, Evans was also pursuing his education. He attended ASU, from which he received a bachelor's degree in music and health education. In 1989, he graduated from the ASU Leadership Program. He also holds a doctorate in nutrition counseling from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Evans's political endeavors began in 1984 when he became the first African American to be elected to the Jonesboro City Council; he served six terms and was vice-mayor from December 1984 to July 1996. On October 1, 1996, he was appointed by Governor Mike Huckabee as the director of Disability Determination for the Social Security Administration for the State of Arkansas. He served as the deputy director of the same agency. Evans has traveled all over the country as a motivational/inspirational speaker to various groups about overcoming adversity. He has been inducted into both the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. Evans was awarded the National Easter Seal Society's Johanna Cooke Plaut Community Leadership Award. He served as a member on the following boards: Central Arkansas United Way Board; Little Rock's Housing Advisory Board; Pulaski County Advisory Board on People with Disabilities; Delta Airlines Advisory Board for People with Disabilities; and Coalition Board on Transportation Service Administration (TSA) of Homeland Security. After retiring, Evans began volunteering as head swim coach at Parkview Magnet High School in Little Rock. He was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 1996. Grover was preceded in death by his parents, William and Georgia Lee Evans, and two brothers. Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Helen Malchan-Evans; son, daughter, brother, two sisters, sister-in-law, a granddaughter and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady Good Counsel Catholic Church with Father Joshua Stengel officiating and burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery in Jonesboro. First visitation with a Rosary will be Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 7-9 p.m. at Our Lady Good Counsel Catholic Church. Second visitation will be Thursday, December 7, 2017 from 3-4 p.m. at Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro. For lasting memorials, the family asks to please consider the Spinal Cord Commission, 1501 N University Ave # 470, Little Rock, Ark. 72207 or Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 1321 S Van Buren St., Little Rock, Ark. 72204. Online Registry: www.emersonfuneralhome.com

Published December 6, 2017

Upcoming Events