Helen Marie Evans (née Savage), 1931-2024

Helen Marie Evans, 92, of Columbus Ohio, ended a prolonged battle with dementia. She passed away on January 29, 2024. Helen was born in Wheeling, WV on August 13, 1931, to Robert Savage and Ollie Lee Burroughs Savage. Helen is preceded in death by her father Robert Savage, mother Ollie Lee Burroughs Savage, daughter Sharon Kay Evans, brother Robert Savage, Jr., brother Ursel Savage, sister Thelma Savage Johnson, sister-in-law Carmie Savage and former spouse Arthur L. Evans. The surviving family includes daughter Ronda Evans, sisters LaVerne Savage Anderson and Mary Savage DeLoach, and loving nieces, nephews, and cousins along with other extended family and friends.

Helen attended Lincoln High School and Lincoln Senior High School. Lincoln was the first school for Black children in Wheeling, WV. She was a proud Lincoln Panthers majorette. Due to segregation one of the only places offering recreation for young Black teens was Doc’s, drugstore, and soda fountain. Black teens like Helen were charged 5 cents a year to attend dances in the basement of the drugstore. Helen graduated from Lincoln with the class of 1949. Helen and Arthur united in marriage on October 24, 1950. A year later Sharon Kay Evans was born in 1951 and died the same year. The Evanses moved to Cleveland, Ohio where they spent their early married years. Her daughter Ronda was born there in 1956. Helen joined the ranks of an emerging trend; she took on the challenge of a working wife and mother. In the 1960’s Helen challenged herself to learn to drive, and she did. She took on the challenge of finding a job of her own and she got one as a retail clerk at Higbee’s department store then as a teller at Society National Bank. She developed skills at the bank serving in different roles.

When the family moved to Columbus Ohio in support of Arthur’s career Helen’s challenge became to carve out a new professional career path for herself. She began that path at the Franklinton Financial Services Division at National City Bank where she set up the Employee Relations Department. National City merged with Columbus-based BancOhio National Bank. She became proficient in training supervisors and managers in bank personnel policies and procedures. At BancOhio Helen’s accomplishments included achieving the human resources title of Assistant Vice President, Employee Relations Administrator. Her accomplishments were remarkable in and of themselves but particularly so given they happened in a time when sexism and racism were prevalent. Helen did not pursue a college degree, but she successfully completed multiple courses and programs of study too numerous to mention for the advancement of her individual skills and in commitment to advancing the image and success of her employer. She aided and improved employee relations. She coordinated bank-wide Service Awards Recognition programs. She helped resolve employee problems. Helen planned and implemented a bank Smoke Cessation program. She implemented a Fire Relief program for employee fire victims. She advocated for banking initiatives with legislators. She supported community outreach programs at OPTIONS: Adult Career/Education Services, Inc., the YMCA, UNCF, Inc. and with the Columbus Clippers. Through her efforts Helen proved to be a visible and positive example for her co-workers and to entities beyond her employer as illustrated by the personal and professional expressions of thanks, admiration, and respect she received.

Helen divorced in 1988. She retired a single woman and lived a happy life keeping her home with her devoted beagle Tori and beloved daughter Ronda. Helen and Ronda were “two peas in a pod”, both lovely people committed to each other. Helen liked traveling, yardwork and dining out. She loved her doggie companion. Tori 3 is with Ronda, but Tori 2 and Tori 1 are on a heavenly stroll with Helen, she, and the dogs in matching outfits. In 2013 Helen was diagnosed with dementia that progressed until her recent death. She passed away peacefully at home with her daughter by her side, a daughter who felt it her life’s greatest honor and privilege to have been her mother’s primary caregiver for the past ten years. Helen’s departure comes as a deep wound, felt by her entire family and others who knew her in her network of community. Helen would say to all not to grieve too long or too deeply for her because those who you love are never gone, just gone ahead.
A viewing is scheduled for 5 pm to 7 pm at Antioch Baptist Church, 1015 Chambers Rd, Columbus, OH A graveside service is scheduled for 11 am on February 13, 2024 at Flint Cemetery, 8187 Flint Rd. Columbus, OH.