Evolena Sophia Ownby^{[1, 2]}

1907 - 1983  (75 years)

• Name	Evolena Sophia Ownby
  Born	22 May 1907	Big Greenbrier, Sevier County, Tennessee
  Gender	Female
  Died	19 Mar 1983	Sevier County, Tennessee   [3]
  Buried	Pigeon Forge Baptist Church Cemetery, Pigeon Forge, Sevier County, Tennessee   [4]
  Person ID	I2088	Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest
  Last Modified	28 Feb 2015

  
  

  Father	Samuel Ownby,   b. 8 Jun 1872, Sevier County, Tennessee ,   d. 1 Aug 1965, Sevier County, Tennessee  (Age 93 years)
  Mother	Sarah Whaley,   b. 14 May 1874, Big Greenbrier, Sevier County, Tennessee ,   d. 23 Jul 1952, Sevier County, Tennessee  (Age 78 years)
  Marriage License	24 Mar 1892	Sevier County, Tennessee
  Married	26 Mar 1892	Dudley Creek, Sevier County, Tennessee
  Family ID	F790	Group Sheet

  
  

• Event Map		Died - 19 Mar 1983 - Sevier County, Tennessee Buried - - Pigeon Forge Baptist Church Cemetery, Pigeon Forge, Sevier County, Tennessee  = Link to Google Maps   = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission Greenbrier (Granny's Collage) about 1922. left: Effie Whaley Proffitt, teacher; Estel Ownby - center young boy w/dark coat; Evolena Ownby - standing on right side in long dark dress; Velma Ownby - 3rd little girl from right, dark dress w/white collar
  		Greenbrier School circa 1921; from 1891 to 1935, according to Velma Ownby Lamons, there were about 42 different teachers, she quotes info from school supt. office; see txt i.d.
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission In Greenbrier
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission on photo: Evolena with her diploma in "Christian Training" from Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans, LA, 1946; b. May 22, 1907; d. March 19, 1983; graduate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; 39 years old
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission 1959
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission on photo: back, l to r: Nancy Ann, Walter, Ezelle, Marion; front, l to r: Estel, Sam (Dad), Sarah (Whaley)(Mother), Velma, Evolena Ownby in the 1920's; all born in Greenbrier
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission Sam & Sarah Ownby and children; l to r: Sam, Walter, Sarah, Marion, Ezalee, Estel, Nancy Ann, Velma, Evolena in front; 1950s
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission on photo: March 16, 1952; 60th wedding anniversary of Sam & Sarah Whaley Ownby; (too cold for Mrs. Ownby to come outside; she wasn't well); see text file for photo identification
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission l to r: Sam Ownby, wife, Sarah Whaley Ownby, Ezalee Ownby (Naugher), Evolena, Walter, nancy Ann Ownby (Whaley), Velma Ownby Lamons, Marion, and Estel
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission l to r: Reford Lamons & wife Velma Ownby Lamons, Ruth Shields Ownby & husband Estel Ownby, Evolena (in front), nancy Ann Ownby Whaley, Lillie Whaley Ownby & husband Walter Ownby
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission Tillery & Melissa Whaley & Evolena Ownby in Greenbrier
  		Sarah (Ownby) Ball submission Gladys Trentham, Evolena Ownby, Omalee Blalock (Wilson) & Virgie Blalock (Omalee's sister - never married)
  		Greenbrier School group circa 1923 1923 or 1924; Evolena Ownby is front on left; also in photo: Stella Whaley, Grace ownby, Lona Whaley, Myrtle Ownby, Otis Proffitt

  
  

• Notes

  Never married. ---------- Reference: "Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 50, 95. Misty Spinelli "Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 101. "Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 187, 217, 246. "Mountain Ways Two", Gene Aiken, 1986, p 133.

  
  

• Sources

  [S106] The Mountain Press, 25 Apr 2011. Upland Chronicles: Evolina Ownby small in stature, but she had big impact on many by THERESA WILLIAMS Evolena Ownby in her later years. The Sam Ownby in 1915. Front row, from left, Estil, Sam Sarah, infant Velma and Evolena; back row:Mark Naughter and wife, Ezalee, Dan Whaley and wife, Nancy Ann, Walter and wife Lillie. A 1953 photograph of Sam Ownby family. Front row: Evolena Ownby, Sarah Whaley Ownby, Sam Ownby. Back row: Velma Ownby Lamons, Nancy Ann Whaley, Marion Ownby, Ezalee Naughter, Estel Ownby and Walter Ownby. Wonderful things come in small packages. Sevier County, Tennessee’s own precious package was Evolena Sophia Ownby. Samuel and Sarah Whaley Ownby were the parents of Evolena. Samuel was born June 8, 1872 in Sevier County, the son of James S. and Sophia Evans Ownby. Samuel died Aug 1, 1965 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. He married on March 26, 1892 in Sevier County to Sarah Whaley, the daughter of John Dudley and Nancy Jane Ownby Whaley. She was born May 14, 1874 in Sevier County and died May 8, 1924 in Big Greenbrier, Tennessee. Samuel and Sarah Whaley Ownby were the proud parents of: Minnie Ezalee, James Walter, Nancy Ann, Andrew Fred, Aaron, Marion Richard, Stella Juanita, Evolena Sophia, John Eulus, Otha Estel, Rozalia Rosa Ann and Velma. Evolena was born Nov. 25, 1907. When Evolena was very young her parents did not believe she would live to grow old. One of her first memories is of a book of Bible stores that her aunt Charlotte gave her. She called it her “Jesus Book.” She would beg her mother to give the book to her every day. Her mother did not want Evolena to destroy the book, so would not let her play with it. Her father, with a tender heart toward a child he believed would not live, told her mother to let her have the book, saying, “Let her have it; there will be books when she is dead and gone.” Being only 47 inches tall, Evolena was considered a little person. In her writings she expresses her joy in attending her first meeting of the Little People of America, Inc. Regional Convention in Townsend, Tennessee. It was wonderful for her to meet people her own size who where educators, administrators, artists, secretaries, draftsmen, engineers, religious educators, accountants and every occupation that could be imagined. As a little person, she felt people would look at her and judge her as “too little for the job” before giving her a chance to do the job. In the book “Memoirs of Living in Big Greenbrier,” she stated: “I have already told you about how sensitive I was about myself. I believe it is other people that make anyone sensitive about one’s self.” Despite being hurt as a child, and as an adult, she met every obstacle head on. Everyone respected her because of the love of God she had for everyone she met. Although she had limitations, her parents insisted that she do chores just like the other children. They denied her nothing, and encouraged her to continue her education. Evolena attended grade school at Big Greenbrier. She went to Sevier County High School and graduated at Smoky Mountain Academy. She attended Draughns Business College in Knoxville. Her next adventure in higher education was to attend New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisiana. There she earned a degree in Missionary Religious Education. Following this, she attended the University of Tennessee, Maryville College, and Carson-Newman College. After finishing her training in Louisiana, she served Sevier County as a missionary. She taught school in Sevier County for 20. Some of the schools where she taught were: Pigeon Forge, Williamsburg, Banner (where she was principal), Church of God Children’s Home, McCookville (she was principal there two years), Wearwood, New Center and Catons Chapel, where she retired as teacher. She had no problem with students because of her size. They all treated her with respect and loved her greatly. Evolena’s family was deeply religious. She said of her life, “The only places I went were to church and school.” Her writings are full of the wonderful adventures she experienced. The number one hindrance in her life was transportation. She either had to rent a room near the school where she was teaching or catch a ride to work. She was encouraged and taught to drive by her brother Estel. A mechanic installed special attachments so she would be able to reach all the necessary operating parts of the car. She was 51 years old when she bought her first car and learned how to drive. Though little in size, Evolena shaped many lives in Sevier County, showing everyone that there were no limits one could not master. She passed from our presence on March 19, 1983. — Theresa Williams is a genealogist for the Sevier County Library System. The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a story or have comments please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411. [S47] Sevier County, Tennessee and its Heritage, Sevier County Heritage Book Committee, (1994, Don Mills, Inc.), 82. [S76] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume III, 1974-1986, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 19 Mar 1983. Ownby, Miss Evolena Sophia 75 b. 5-22-1907 TN d. 3-19-83 SCH res R3 Sev teacher f. Sam Ownby m. Sarah Whaley P-Forge Bapt Cem Survivors: 1 sis Velma Lamons Sev 1 bro Estel Ownby Sev mem 1st Bapt Ch P-Forge graduate of Smoky Mt Bapt Academy & New Orleans Bapt Theological Seminary served as first director of missions of Sev Co Bapt Assn. [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 328.