Rebecca Howell Evans

AIKEN, SC -- Rebecca Howell (Beckie) Evans, 63, passed away at home on May 26 and went to be with her Lord. Beckie was born in Burlington, New Jersey, the daughter of Theron and Ruth Howell. She was raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Clarion University in Pennsylvania with a degree in Elementary Education. After teaching at the Heiskell School in Atlanta for three years, Beckie worked in real estate including as executive secretary to the president of the Adams-Cates Realty Company. A devoted wife and mother, Beckie's greatest accomplishment was in teaching her three children at home through high school. A genuine pioneer in the homeschooling movement, Beckie did not know anyone else teaching at home when she began in 1982. Beckie’s example and encouragement inspired countless families to pursue homeschooling. Except for her strong testimony as a Christian and her three children, Beckie's greatest legacy will be the many boys and girls who were homeschooled as a result of her leadership. After she finished teaching her own children, Beckie became a tutor in reading and writing which eventually expanded into consulting including training individuals and teachers and sales of educational curricula. She was a member of Christ Church, Presbyterian in Evans, Georgia. Beckie loved flowers, music, and seeking her Lord by studying His Word. Beckie's greatest desire was to glorify God which she did throughout her life, most notably in her final months courageously facing illness. She was always at peace knowing that, if God chose not to heal her, He would lovingly and gently take her into His presence. Beckie is survived by her husband Ed; three children and their spouses, Brian (Alyssa) of Richmond, Virginia, Laura (Adam Doss) of Rome, Georgia, and Mark (Amanda) of Sneads Ferry, North Carolina; by 13 grandchildren: Andrew, Audrey, and Annika Evans; Joshua, Abigail, Esther, Hannah, Noah, Joseph, and Peter Doss; and Graeme, Cole, and Ciara Evans; by her mother, Ruth Howell of Langhorne, Pennsylvania; and by a sister, Candie (Jim) Dunn of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 PM Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at Shellhouse - Rivers Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11:00 AM at Aiken's First Baptist Church with The Reverend Mark Nabholz officiating. Interment will follow in Bethany Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Brian Evans, Mark Evans, Adam Doss, Gary Spooner, Rob Bomar, Bo Patton and Jim Dunn. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Summit Ministries, P.O. Box 207, Manitou Springs, CO 80829. Please visit the online guest book at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rebecca Howell Evans, please visit our flower store.