Robert Lee Travis Jr.
PRESIDENT (2017-2018)
Robert Lee Travis 78, of Tallahassee died Monday, March 19. Born October 9, 1939 on a farm located 5 miles outside of Vidalia in Toombs County Georgia. He was the son of the late Robert and Sarah Cook Phillips Travis. Robert “Bob” attended Blanche Ely High School, Pompano Beach, Florida, earning his Diploma in 1957; attended Clark University, Atlanta, Georgia and received his Bachelor of Arts, 1962. While still at Clark University he participated in the sit-in in Atlanta and went to Jail for the first time where he shared a cell with A.D. King, the brother of Martin Luther King. After graduating from college in 1962, Bob volunteered for the Peace Corps where he served in Ethiopia. After leaving the Peace Corps and returning to the states, he entered the military in 1965 serving with the First Calvary Division, Air Mobile, 8th Engineers in South Vietnam, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1967. Following his discharge he then attended law school at Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C. where he earned his Juris Doctor, in1969. In 1964, he met Freida through a law school classmate. They were married in June of 1968 and moved to Tallahassee in 1972. He served as the first statewide director of Florida Legal Services; also was the Executive Director and Founder of Florida Rural Legal Services; was the Executive Director (appointed by Gov. Rubin Askew) of the Division of Community Services, Florida Department of Community Affairs. Bob has an innate commitment to community and the melding of civil rights and social justice. He worked as transition coordinator for inmates at Wakulla Correctional Institution.
He was member of professional associations including: The Florida Bar, National Bar Association; Blackboard Journal; The Barrister Association founding member; Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity; Florida Bar Legal Aid committee; Gadsden County Bar Association; Florida Bar Student Education and Admission to the Florida Bar Committee; the Florida Bar Foundation; Second Judicial Circuit Nominating Committee; Second Judicial Pro Bono Committee; Governor’s Council on Indian Affairs Founder and Secretary; Florida Endowment Fund for Higher Education; Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce; District Human Rights Advocacy Committee; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; founder of Legal Services of North Florida; State Action Council; NAACP, Tallahassee Branch; Tallahassee Urban League; Florida Voters League; Florida Family Planning Council; Community Action Council of West Palm Beach; Florida Rural Services Board of Directors; Governor’s Task Force of Housing and Community Development; Florida Task Force on Corrections; and National Association of Economic Opportunity, serving all these organizations in many capacities.
He has had an outstanding career, including: his private practice in Quincy, Legal Services of North Florida; Professional Experience Horizon Communities in Prison; Inside Coordinator; Knowles Marks & Randolph P.A.; and he was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. He currently was the President of the Tallahassee Branch of the NAACP and was working as a paralegal.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Felton Phillips. Edward Phillips, Jim L. Travis and two sisters, Jennie Ruth Herring and Catherin Lampkin. He leaves to cherish his memories Frieda and his daughter Natasha and Son Eric and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
DR. CHARLES L. EVANS, SR.
PRESIDENT (1990-1998, 2003-2008)
Dr. Charles Leonard Evans, son of the late Reverend Walter S. Evans and late Mrs. Pauline Parker Evans, was born on July 23, 1945 in Durham, North Carolina. He departed this earthly life on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at home in Tallahassee, Florida.
Charles graduated as Valedictorian from Merrick Moore High School in 1963 and attended NC A&T State University in 1967 majoring in Engineering Mathematics. As a student he became a civil rights activist participating in marches, Sit Ins and voting rights campaigns. His dream was to become a pilot in the Air Force, but was denied commission stating he had a curvature of the spine. Soon after Charles applied to the Navy's Officer Training Pilot Program and was accepted. Upon completing his military obligations, he began work in Syracuse, NY while also obtaining his MBA in Management Information Systems and a Ph.D. in Marketing, both from Syracuse University in 1973 and 1976 respectively. After completing his doctoral studies, he returned to his alma mater in NC to teach in the Business School before relocating to Tallahassee as a Professor of Marketing in the School of Business and Industry at Florida A&M University where he taught for over thirty-two years with his last class ending this past summer session. He also continued to consult with many of the major Fortune 500 companies such as Colgate, Pepsi Cola, American Express, Anheuser Busch, General Motors, Corning, Seagrams, Tropicana, Champion, US West and others. Also he worked closely with many of the small businesses in Tallahassee concerning their marketing, computer and strategic planning needs.
Knowing he had cancer for two years prior to his death, Charles was determined to continue his mission and purpose of teaching and serving others through numerous organizations and involvement both locally and nationally. He was a Golden Heritage Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and Board Member of the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Board Member & Chair of Bethel Community Development Corporation (CDC) and Steward Emeritus at Bethel AME Church all at the time of his passing. His past memberships and associations were extensive with ensuring each served a purpose for the betterment of all people. A few to mention included Board Member & Chair of FAMU Federal Credit Union, Board Member & Founding President of Kappa Alpha Psi Guide Right Foundation of Tallahassee, President of the Tallahassee NAACP for 13 years, Chair of the Education Committee for the Florida State Conference NAACP, Board Member of the Tallahassee Museum of History & Natural Science, Southern Scholarship Foundation, C.K. Steel Scholarship Fund, Harry T. Moore Fund, Judicial Council for the State of Florida, Volunteer/Partners Council for the State of Florida, Physical Therapy Board for the State of Florida, Leon County Superintendent's Evaluation Committee, Co-Chair of the Tallahassee Community Relations Council, Commission Member of Education Accountability and Reform for the State of Florida, Marketing Association with a host of published articles and deliverance of presentations throughout the U.S. Most notoriously were his accomplishments through Civil Rights with participating in the first March on Washington in 1963 as a High School Senior, attending the 25th Anniversary March with his family, as well as forging partnerships with numerous organizations in Tallahassee for the advancement and equality of all people.
Charles leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Dr. Constantine "Connie" Hicks-Evans of Tallahassee, FL; one son, Chief Warrant Officer IV Charles Evans, Jr. of Seoul, Korea, three daughters, Carita Evans of Tallahassee, FL; Constance Evans and Cara Evans-Patterson of Charlotte, NC; four brothers, Arthur Evans, Samuel Evans, Earl Evans, Ronald Evans, Ricky Evans and one sister, Dalphine Evans Chapman all of Durham, NC; five sisters-in-law, Jacqueline Parker Hicks, JoAnn McRae Hicks of Syracuse, NY, Vivian Hicks Hanson, Carolyn Hicks Tyson of Erial NJ, and Delores Evans of Durham, NC; three brothers-in-law, Dwight Hicks of Syracuse, NY, Manton Chapman of Durham, NC and Dr. John Hanson of Erial NJ; one daughter-in-law, Sergeant First Class Julie Evans of Seoul, Korea; two sons-in-law, Dr. Bryan Patterson and Billy Singletary of Charlotte, NC; thirteen grandchildren: Jasmine, Dwight, Trevor, Cerita, Gennara, Aviana, Chelsey, Tyler, Tayler, Jaylen, Nathan, Kaylee and Renee; three great grandchildren: Ricaryii, Camdyn and Milani; sixteen nephews, eleven nieces, three god-daughters: Ediri Viegbesie, Shawn and Dr. Angela Tidwell and a host of other loving relatives, friends and neighbors.
