Evelyn B. Page

Obituary of Evelyn Brightharp Page Evelyn Brightharp Page was born on September 6, 1926 in Augusta, Georgia to Thomas and Odessa Brightharp. They later relocated to Cleveland, Ohio and raised a closely knit and loving family. Evelyn was the seventh of eight children and the legacy continues to this day. Evelyn graduated from John Hay High School in 1943 and continued her love of learning at Case Western Reserve University. While matriculating at Case Western, Evelyn went on a blind date and met the love of her life, William H. Page. After a romantic courtship, she decided to defer college to focus on her husband and raising their children. Evelyn later achieved her goal of receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work at Temple University while raising a family of five and working as a Home and School Coordinator at the Pastorius Elementary School in the Philadelphia School District. In this role, she was the liaison between the school and community; giving guidance to parents and children on matters to avoid truancy, improve academic performance and to assuage the challenges of the urban educational experience of Black America in the 1970’s. Enjoying her academic success, she was accepted into Temple University’s Master of Education program, and earned a Pennsylvania certification and teaching license in Special Education. She worked as a classroom teacher until her retirement in 1992. Evelyn was a dedicated aunt to Ramona, Ronnie and Dale; children of her beloved sister, Roylene Moten. They enjoyed many summers together in Philadelphia that included frequent trips to Atlantic City and family gatherings that included their favorite iconic Philly/AC treats of hoagies, cheesesteaks, Tastykakes, Italian water ice, saltwater taffy, and soft pretzels. Every year the family would make holiday and summer meccas to Cleveland, Ohio to visit Evelyn’s family which always included an epic mass family picnic at the famed Cedar Point Amusement Park. Evelyn always made sure her boys enjoyed fishing days on Lake Erie, with young Carolyn receiving continual ancestral social and cultural refinement by her beloved Aunt Roylene. An honored family tradition was the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at the home of her cousin, Dorothy and Dr. E. Theodore Jones. The year would always be blessed by a New Years Day dinner, attended by the late Pastor Robert Johnson Smith, his wife Jenny, all family members and close friends; assembled at the Page residence. Evelyn and Bill were a strong civic force in the East Germantown community in matters of youth delinquency, violence control, humanitarian efforts to unite the community, town watch and for many years served as block captains. Evelyn was highly respected in the community throughout many generations. Even the members of the Summerville gang would greet and recognize her presence as if she was royalty, always addressing her as Ms. Page. On her many home visits, the gang members would actually become a security force providing protection as she carried out her duties; a testament to the respect she earned in the community. Always spiritually led, Evelyn and Bill visited many churches in the area, but after an invitation to Salem by the Willis’ and G. Frank Page, they knew they had found their forever spiritual home. They set deep roots at Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown, PA, where she served in many capacities and involved all of her children in various ministries. Those ministries included Junior Deacon Board, Deacon Board, Chairman of the Deacon Board, Trustee Board, Chapel Choir, Male Chorus, Usher Board, and Scholarship Ministry. Evelyn’s deep love for Jesus Christ and Salem led her to serve in many participatory and leadership capacities, and where she developed lifelong friendships with stalwart pillar families beginning with the late Pastor Robert Johnson Smith, Sr, and family, Schaffer family, Bell family, Herder-Nix family, Johnston family, to name just a few, but the list goes on. Her many ministry activities and recognitions include: Member of, and for a term President of the Scholarship and Endowment Ministry, Inspirational Choir, Deaconess Ministry, awarded Mother of the Year and Family of the Year. Evelyn opened her heart to not only her friends. Her loving spirit was shared with all with whom she came into contact. Her broad life experiences provided a depth of wisdom that was shared and blessed many who sought her counsel. Evelyn adored and forever supported her loving husband, Bill. They were inseparable and spent 68 years together, adding depth and character to their love relationship, which strongly modeled a Christ-centered life that was adopted by all of her children. Her favorite songs were “Don’t Mess With Bill” and “The Love Ballad”. Evelyn had many hobbies that included: world travel to Alaska, Spain, Africa, Hawaii, Carribean Islands, Canada and many of the 50 states. While her children were still teenagers, they travelled across the U.S.A. one summer in a Plymouth Fury and a hitched pop-up trailer with 5 children and a Chihuahua. Highlighted stops on this trip included some of the seven wonders of the world: Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, The Grand Canyon, the Corn Palace, Black Hills and BadLands of South Dakota, the storied Indian Reservations, the Painted Desert of Arizona, Las Vegas and culminating with a visit to Disneyland and a reunion with many family members. She was an avid fan of all sports, especially basketball, football, track and field, golf and boxing. Experiences cherished by Evelyn, inspired by her travel buddies, the Bell and Greene families, and bound by many funny stories, were these world excursions as part of the late Ms. Inez Bell’s Travel Club. As her health declined, she received the best of care from many caretakers, with her last being her favorite, Dee Davidson. Evelyn was blessed to spend the past five years with her daughter, Carolyn, her primary caretaker, and son-in-law, Ronald Myers who both waited on her hand and foot. Ronald loved Mom, and he always made her laugh, and Evelyn with her sharp wit, she’d quip back, spiraling the laughter to another level. They provided the comforts in life that she cherished like inclusion in many family celebrations and all her favorite foods, and we all know that Evelyn enjoyed her glass of white wine, with only one ice cube. Flowers, grandchildren and great grands were her joy, and she wanted her flowers while she was living. After some difficult months with her health, on the evening of December 11th, 2020, Almighty God, in his infinite wisdom, gently and peacefully closed the eyes of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be greeted and joined in heaven by her parents and seven other siblings who preceded her in heavenly transition. She leaves a legacy of love and excellence to: her loving husband, Bill, her four sons, William Kevin Page, Garrett D. Page (Trish), Glenn A. Page (Lynn), Brian K. Page (Barbara), Carolyn D. Bailey-Myers (Ronald); twelve grandchildren, Brandie, Maggie, Brittany, Brianna, Sheena, Gary II, Caryn, Shannon, Lauren, Braya, Bralyn Tia, and Eugene III; four great-grandchildren, Mya, Carmelo, Bronwyn and Chase. Evelyn will also be greatly missed and remembered by a host of family members and close friends she cherished dearly. Submitted With Love, The Page Family

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