The Story of Doris Evans Doris E. Russell Doris Evans Russell was the third of seven children born to Charles and Babie Evans on June 21, 1918. Her youngest brother, Jon Evans, survives her. Her family was part of the Great Migration and they traveled North from Louisiana and settled briefly in Arkansas. The family soon relocated to the Indiana Harbor and later to Gary, Indiana where her parents purchased a home. Her father worked at, later became a foreman at Inland Steel Company. Doris was educated in the public schools. She loved school and was an avid reader. That love of reading continued and she shared it with many young people throughout her life. She said that she used to cry when school was out for summer vacation! She graduated as Salutatorian from Froebel High School, where few blacks were students. It was said that she was deprived of the Valedictorian honor because of her race. She was given the opportunity to attend Indiana University (I.U.) in Bloomington, IN. Blacks were not allowed to live in the dormitories, so they stayed in private boarding homes of Blacks in the community. She had very little money for school, and often she was hungry. She found a job which included meals working for one of her professors. In 1938 she became a member of the Tau Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. While in school, she met a handsome member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Guy E. Russell and she married him upon his graduation. They moved to Indianapolis, IN where they had their first child, Rosalyn. She passed away as an infant. As a result of their sadness, they prayed for another child. Their son, Guy Evans Russell, was an answer to their prayers. The family settled in the Lockfield Gardens Apartments and their second daughter, Gayle was born while they lived there. Shortly after, they moved into their home in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood. Their daughter Gwendolyn was born a few years later. Mrs. Russell lived in her home in that community for over 60 years, until her passing. She enjoyed designing plans to remodel her home, and took great pleasure in that work. In 1996 her husband of 58 years preceded her in death. She worked for many years as a substitute teacher, and for a time as a unit secretary for Methodist Hospital. She left that position to care for her mother and her granddaughter Adriane. She learned to drive in the mid-seventies and she relished her new found independence. Mrs. Russell loved to walk and she walked regularly at Butler University, near her home. She even learned to ride a three wheeled bicycle through her neighborhood. Once her granddaughter started school, she began work as a reading tutor at School #60 and School #87. When she thought she would have to retire, she was convinced to go back to school to complete the degree that she had put on hold as she reared her family. In 1992 she was featured in the Indianapolis Star newspaper for this accomplishment, achieved just prior to her 75th birthday. Indianapolis then Mayor Stephen Goldsmith proclaimed May 8th, 1993, “Doris E. Russell Day.” She was a former Sunday School teacher and long time member of Mount Zion Baptist Church. Mrs. Russell became a 50 year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1988 in Los Angeles, CA. In April of 2013 she earned the distinction of being a 75 year Diamond member. Her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She had six grandchildren, Adriane Smith, Brian Coyle(Peggy), Quinn Green, Erin Mathurin (Gregory), Geoffrey Coyle, and Tynan Green. She had four great-grandchildren, Ciara Smith, Jadin Smith, Jordan Smith, and Gabrielle Green. She will be mourned by her children, her brother, numerous nephews and nieces, other family members, sorority sisters, and friends. She leaves behind a strong legacy of admirable achievement.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Apr 2014 00:43:45 +0000
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