Valerie Evans

Valerie Elizabeth Evans was affectionately known as "Ms. Jamaica" in the neighborhood, "Veteran" to her siblings, and "Valdez" to her longtime friends an colleagues. She was born in Kingston, Jamaica West Indies to Edna White-Palmer and Luther Evans. After her mother passed away at the age of 17, she was later raised by Oswald and Enid White. Her maternal grandparents John and Ethel White of Cuba (deceased) is through whom she received her ability to speak Spanish fluently along with her native patua language. Valerie was born with vast intelligence and was a whiz with numbers and mathematics. She was responsible for taking care of the family business and was given the name "Veteran" by her aunt, the late Iona Evelyn due to her mature nature. Valerie attended New York University, in which she excelled in Psychology and branched off to Nursing. She later worked for Bernard Fineson Developmental Center in Queens, New York for over 20 years, as the owner of a convenience store, and Jamaican restaurant in Brooklyn, New York. Valerie was a woman who dedicated her life to others, whether it was a hot place of her aunthentic Jamaican cuisine, a night's rest in her house, or spiritual words of encouragement. She touched everyone through her random acts of kindness, effervescent personality, and sense of humor. Valerie was simply-THE BEST mother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend and confidant. Valerie left a lasting impression on anyone that she came across and before she went home to the Lord, she said, "When I die, don't cry for me, cause I will be free! Rejoice!" Valerie leaves to cherish her memories: four children: Michelle Evans, Pearline Evans-Capenter, Esther Evans, and Tesia Stephenson all born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and now reside in Raleigh; six grandchildren: Shantel Campbell, Ishmael Sutton, Ishiah Sutton, Jonathan Pittman, Destiny Turner, and Faith Deck; one great grandchild-Aubrey Milan Campbell; five siblings: Alrice Palmer, Lennox Palmer, Laurel Palmer, Marjorie Palmer-Watts all of Kingston,Jamaica W.I. and Raymond Palmer (deceased); a host of cousins: Gerry, Junior, Barbara, Myleen, Herman, and children--all of Boston, Massachusetts along with plenty of other family members around the world.