Buford Eugene "Gene" Evans, Sr., 83, of Tifton died Wednesday, November 19, 2008, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, 2008, at Pineview Holiness Baptist Church. Rev. Silas Carver and Rev. Ray Turner will officiate with burial to follow in Pineview Holiness Baptist Church Cemetery. Foster Goff, Jr., Coy Goff, Lyman McBrayer, Larry McBrayer, Henry Bailey and Don Turner will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Gene Montgomery, Jonathan Richardson and Troy McBrayer. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 22, 2008, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Evans was born on December 3, 1924 in Tift County and was the son of Elijah Evans and Sarah E. Campbell Evans, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by one son, Buford Evans, Jr.; five brothers, Lewis Evans, Carl Evans, Harding Evans, Welch Evans and Winfred Evans; and four sisters, Maude Lasseter, Gertrude Van Cleef, Ruth Woodman and Azarene Hollis; and one granddaughter, Natalie Richardson. He was a retired automobile salesman and a member of Pineview Holiness Baptist Church.
Mr. Evans is survived by one son, Gary Evans of Atlanta; two daughters, Debra Richardson of Tifton and Joyce Evans Lobel of Augusta; eight grandchildren, Darlene A. Lobel, Jonathan Richardson, Olivia Richardson, Russell Evans, Jodi Bass, Chad Evans, Meghan Evans and Brandon Evans; and two great grandchildren, Josie Bass and Jensen Bass.