COWARD: Mr. Lushen Herbert Evans, 88, husband of Mary Lee Evans, died Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010, at his residence after an illness.
Mr. Evans was born December 18, 1921, in Florence County, one of twelve (12) children of the late Herbert and Bessie Carraway Evans. He grew up in Coward and attended J. C. Lynch School. In 1940 he married the late Blanche Collins and their home was blessed with the birth of two sons, Charles Kermit Evans and L. H. “Sandy” Evans, Jr.
In October of 1941, he began a career with the U. S. Naval Shipyard in Charleston, SC, testing nuclear submarines. For 37 years he and Blanche made their home in Hanahan and were members of the Remount Baptist Church of Charleston.
Wishing to serve his country, in 1943, he joined the U. S. Marine Corps and was assigned to the 4th Division, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines and bravely served his country during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. He was one of the thousands of courageous marines who landed on the beaches of Iwo Jima in February of 1945, and was one of the gunmen who held off enemy fire as the famous “raising of the US Flag” was originally carried out. His unit, which would later become known as the “Fighting Fourth”, was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations for combat during World War II.
Mr. Evans was a member of the Scottish Rites of Free Masonry and a member of the Omar Temple Shriners of Charleston. His wife, Blanche, died in December of 1976 after an unsuccessful battle with cancer. He retired from the Naval Shipyard after 35 years of service and in March of 1978 returned to Coward to marry Mary Frances Lee Parrott. “Papa Lushen” as he was known by family and friends loved the outdoors, river fishing being perhaps his favorite sport. He and Mary, his devoted wife of 33 years, spent many happy times together fishing, gardening, and sharing life. He was a member of the Sand Hill Free Will Baptist Church and the Men’s Fellowship. He was also a lifetime member of the Robert Burns Masonic Lodge No. 337 of Coward, SC.
Surviving include his wife, Mary Lee Evans of Coward; sons, Charles K. Evans and his wife, Betty of Summerville and L.H. “Sandy” Evans, Jr., and his wife, Diane of Summerville; stepchildren, Larry Hawkins of Coward, Cathy P. Story and her husband, Don of Florence, Janis P. Galloway and her husband, Ray of Darlington, Beth P. Miles and her husband, Rick of Darlington and Linwood Parrott of Coward; twelve grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Richard Scharlock, a step-daughter, Dr. Lynda P. Hawkins and 7 sisters and 4 brothers.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 3:00 P.M. Thursday, August 5th, in the Fellowship Hall of Sand Hill Free Will Baptist Church with services to follow at 3:00 P.M. in the church sanctuary.
Burial, with full military honors, will be in the Lynches Memorial Gardens, Coward, SC, directed by Carolina Funeral Home, Scranton, SC.
The family would like to express special thanks and appreciation to Pastor Sherwood Lee, Donnie Turner, Hospice workers Nikki Hill and Donna Smith, family, friends and neighbors for the care and concern given to “Papa Lushen”.