Evelyn Evon (Sansing) Townsend

       Reflections of a Wonderful Life

Evelyn Evon Sansing Townsend, 93, passed away on November 17, 2020 at her home in Kansas City, Kansas.  She was born on July 30, 1927 in Indianola, Mississippi to the late James and Dora (Godbold) Sansing.  She was the third of eight siblings, two sisters:  Helen and Brenda Ann and five brothers:  Ellis, James, John, Jerry and Terry. Her sister Helen and brothers Ellis, James, and John preceded her in death. She confessed a belief in Christ at an early age beginning her spiritual journey at the Center Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Indianola, Mississippi.

Evelyn grew up in Indianola, Mississippi.  She graduated from Indianola Colored High School in Indianola in 1945.  After high school she attended Alcorn A & M College (now Alcorn State University) in Lorman, Mississippi where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics.  She took post graduate classes at Kansas State University.  She later attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri receiving a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance.

Her professional life spanned over 60 years with her first teaching position at the New Gentry High School in Indianola, Mississippi where she wrote words to the high school song and selected the school colors.  She left Mississippi for Kansas City, Kansas in 1957 when she married her childhood sweetheart, Hildred Townsend.  Before the addition of two daughters she served as an instructor and assistant principal at the Vernon Elementary School and taught for the Veteran Administration.  A master seamstress, she belonged to a local designers club where designed women’s clothing and even and even had her own model to display her fashions.

She returned to high school instruction at Bishop Ward High School where she remained over 27 years.  She taught clothing and home economics for several years before becoming the department head.  After attaining her Master’s degree she transitioned to be one of the most beloved high school counselors. While an educator, she served on the North Central Evaluation Team, American Guidance Association, and later served as a school board member for the Archdiocese.  She taught Adult Education at Donnelly College and was a summer counselor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.  She served 2 years on the University of Kansas Board at the Regents Center in Overland Park, Kansas.

Evelyn was a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, joining the Zeta Chapter in while in college.  She later became an active member in the Alpha Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta, Incorporated in Kansas City, Kansas. She served as the organization’s Kansas State Director for 6 years and was responsible for the chartering of the undergraduate chapter, Epsilon Mu at Kansas State University. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and the Frontiers.  She also held membership in the KCK NAACP.  She was a past officer of the Rebecca Vinson Democratic Women’s Club and a Kansas Silver Haired Legislator. She enjoyed teaching home economics, sewing, quilting and crochet.  Her quilts were displayed at the Wyandotte County Historical Museum and at the Vernon Multipurpose Center.  She was a massive collector of elephants.  Her collection was featured in local newspapers.  She received many recognitions and awards from schools, colleges and organizations during her lifetime.

While she was a member of the Allen Chapel AME Church she was a part of the Cathedral Choir, Christian Education Chairperson, Sunday School, Benevolent Club and a member of the Board of Stewards.  In the 80’s she returned to her husband’s church Metropolitan Baptist Church devoting her time to Christian Education and the church library.  The library was named for her in August 1999.

In retirement she continued as the church librarian, gardening, collecting elephants. She continued to teach quilting and crochet to seniors at the Vernon Multipurpose Center until her health failed. 

Evelyn was preceded in death by husband Hildred Townsend, Sr., stepson Adrian Townsend, and grandson Tyler Townsend.  She is survived by her sister Brenda Ann (Aaron) Woods and two bothers Terry Sansing and Jerry (Jeanette) Sansing all of Indianola, Mississippi; two daughters Helen (Mike) Beteet of Overland Park, Kansas, and Hilda (Anthony) Garner, Jr. of Kansas City, Kansas; two sons Hildred (Mata) Townsend, Jr. of Kansas City, Kansas, and Karl Townsend of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren Cheron Townsend and Christin (Michael) Elston of Kansas City Missouri: Telissa (Wayne) Hubbard of Ft. Worth, Texas,  and Terrine (Christopher) Townsend of Grand Prairie, Texas, Abrea (Brandon) McDonald of Raytown, MO; Alexandria Beteet of Dallas, Texas, Michael Townsend Beteet of Kansas City, MO and Anthony Garner, III of Kansas City Kansas.  She leaves a host of nieces, nephews and cousins and friends.

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