October 3, 2026
COCHRAN, Ga. — Longtime pastor and former Georgia state missionary Clifford Clyde Evans, Jr. passed away Saturday at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, surrounded by his family.
He was 76.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Cochran First Baptist Church. A private burial will be at Pulaski~Bleckley Memorial Gardens. The family will meet friends Tuesday following the service at the church.
Evans was born on October 25, 1947, in Cordele, the son of the late Clifford C. Evans, Sr. and Mrs. Betty R. Allen Evans and was preceded in death by his son, Andrew Paul Evans. He grew up in Albany and was a graduate of Dougherty High School in the class of 1966.
After high school, Evans continued his education at Norman College and William Carey College. He followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1969, serving in the Vietnam War.
After serving his country, Clyde returned to William Carey College and finished his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies. He later went on to earn his Master of Divinity from Luther Rice College and Seminary.
On July 3, 1970, Clyde married the love of his life, Janice "Jan" Crawford, and their adventure began leading them to serve at Salem Baptist Church in Sylvester. He then pastored Houston Heights Baptist Church in Macon before moving to Cochran in 1985 to be the pastor at Southside Baptist Church.
He served as the director of missions for Dodge, Pulaski, Bleckley County Baptist Association. He also served as Ministry Resource Consultant for the Georgia Baptist Convention. Most recently, he has served as the Legacy Builders pastor at First Baptist Church in Cochran.
Evans and his wife, Jan, were a special team impacting the lives of all that knew them. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Cochran and was a member of The Believers Sunday School Class.
In his free time, he and Jan loved to camp and travel with their travel buddies, Terry and Catherine Belflower. One of his favorite destinations was Alaska. He, Jan, Terry, and Catherine took a trip there this past summer. His greatest joy in life was his family especially his children and grandchildren.
Those left to cherish his memories are his wife of 53 years, Mrs. Janice "Jan" Crawford Evans; children, Shelli Evans Smithers (Luke) of Rincon and Matthew Crawford Evans (Karen) of Warner Robins; grandchildren, Benjamin Smithers, Thomas Evans, and Mackenzie Evans; sisters, Janie Anderson (Vic) of Winter Haven, Fl. and Linda Smith (Bobby) of Albany; brother, John R. Evans (Virginia) of Arabi; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in to the Georgia Baptist Children's Home at: https://www.georgiachildren.org/donate or mailed to: P.O. Box 329, Palmetto, Ga., 30268, or to Gideons International at https://www.gideons.org/donate or mailed to Gideons International Processing Center, P.O. Box 97251 Washington, D.C., 20090-7251.
Share with others
