by Chris Munzing
The respected pastor died April 9, 2000, and the street on which his church sits, Park Place, was ceremonially renamed "Rev. J.J. Evans Boulevard" a year later, though it retained its official name.
That all changed last Sunday, with a ceremony to bring down the old signs and officially christen the street with the name of the man who helped and influenced so many Long Beach residents.
Perhaps it was no coincidence that the all-too-common rain clouds parted and the sunshine broke through. The congregants of the Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church, founded by Evans more than 50 years ago, exited their Sunday services onto Rev. J.J. Evans Boulevard and began their "Founder's Day" celebration.
The ceremony had numerous guests, including clergy of many religious denominations, Evans' family members, and numerous Long Beach officials. The day was presided over by City Manager Harold Porr III.
Many took the opportunity to speak to the gathering about what Evans meant to them. City Councilman Leonard Remo regretted not getting a chance to meet the pastor personally, but called him, "a visionary [for] his church, his community, and the community of Long Beach as a whole. The respect his church has is a direct result of the foundation he laid."
Councilman Denis Kelly likened Evans to some other names that grace the street signs of Long Beach. "Now we'll see the names of Lincoln, Monroe, Roosevelt and Evans," he said.
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce President Lawrence Elovich considered his friend of more than 40 years one of the great men he's known. "He was a very respected and respectful man," Elovich said. "He was loved by his community."
Scott Nigro, vice president of the City Council, invited everyone to step off the sidewalks and lawns and stand in the newly named street. "You're all standing on Rev. J.J. Evans Boulevard," he said. The crowd, clad mostly in the pastor's favorite color -- red -- cheered.
Evans' family members beamed with pride as they were then invited up to the podium to receive their very own "Rev. J.J. Evans Blvd" street sign from City Council President Joel Crystal, who called Evans "one of my Long Beach heroes."
Jessie Evans-Wilson, the pastor's daughter, spoke of her father as a true humanitarian and an "ecclesiastical pioneer." He was, she said, a man who didn't take race or religion or anything else into consideration when somebody needed his help.
"He was for the benefit of all mankind -- he crossed all lines," she said. Evans-Wilson spoke of how her father was always involved in his community, whether it was politics, religion or any other number of civic organizations.
Parishioner Barbara Carr wrote a poem for the occasion that chronicled Evans' life. The final two lines read, "We're glad that some things will remain the same, And we're thankful the street outside will forever bear his name."
Senior Pastor Carlton Mobley may have put it most appropriately when he said, "I know that God and Dr. Evans are smiling down today."
