EVELYN KING was born in Philadelphia on October 5, 1937, to Nicey King and Willis Abraham Ballard. She was later adopted by Walter King, Sr.

She grew up in Philadelphia amongst her aunts and uncle and cousins and had a happy childhood. She was loved. Being the oldest of all her siblings, and most of her cousins, she took naturally to being a caregiver and this would later influence her chosen career.

Evelyn attended the Philadelphia public schools and attended from Overbrook High. After the birth of her daughter, Luranda, she then enrolled in Philadelphia College of Nursing in 1954. She graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse and went on to further her training. Evelyn then went on to serve the community for 35 years as a nurse in Philadelphia General Hospital, as an Emergency room nurse, a ward nurse and later, a nurse attending at neighborhood health clinics and was also head nurse at Holmesburgh Prison. She loved being a nurse in any capacity, and that was her identity. She was always available to give advice, lend an ear, or shoulder.

She loved all her family and was fiercely proud of them, and she was loved.

Evelyn was fun loving, but proud woman and had a great sense of quirky humor, which was balanced by her great well of empathy. She had a great love of books and learning that she passed down to her daughter. She was a loving mother who strove to give her only daughter the best advantages, and encouraged her daughter in all her endeavors and guided her in life, whether Luranda wanted her to or not. She was loved.

In her retirement, she discovered a love and a joy, of creating art and was very talented. She went on to win awards in local art shows and continued to paint, and sketch even after sever arthritis limited her greatly. She took great joy in giving her paintings and drawings to her friends and family. She was loved.

She leaves behind to mourn her, her daughter Luranda; her sisters, Maureen, Irma and Vanessa; her brothers, Walter (Sunny) and Willis; and her uncle, George. Also, a host nieces, nephews, and cousins and very good friends. She is preceded in death by four sisters, Geraldine, Celia, Essie, and Dorothy and three brothers, James, Darius, and Ernest.

She accepted Christ as a young girl and re- dedicated herself again as an adult.