Frances (Copeland) Evans

Frances Copeland Evans, 89 of Gainesville passed away Saturday April 6, 2024.

A loving mother and grandmother, with a broad intellectual curiosity, a sharp wit, and a wide variety of interests, Frances Copeland Evans was a musician who taught piano and performed for many years as both a soloist and accompanist, first in her home state of Alabama, then in North Carolina.

Born on October 3, 1934, in Dothan, Alabama, Frances grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, and became one of the top young pianists in the state. In 1955 she graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with Bachelors of Music and Bachelors of Arts degrees. She would earn a Masters Degree in Music at the University of North Carolina in 1972.

On February 4, 1956, she married Lawrence Evans and they lived in Baltimore, Maryland, where she worked at the Johns Hopkins University library while Larry finished his Ph.D. in physics. In 1962 their daughter Anne was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and their son Brian was born in 1964 in Durham, North Carolina, where the family settled. There, in addition to performing and teaching music, she was active with the Durham Arts Council, and volunteered with the Durham County Library. In Durham, she was the rehearsal pianist for the Savoyards, a troupe that performed mostly Gilbert & Sullivan shows, and she sang in their choruses as well. Ultimately, she performed in all 13 Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. She worked part-time at Duke University and taught piano privately as well.

She was an avid traveler who visited much of the world including Europe, Quebec, Morocco, Ecuador, Peru, the Galapagos Islands, and Costa Rica. She enjoyed spending time with family at the beach and reading everything from mystery novels to biographies to English literature.

She and Larry were divorced, but she remained in the family home until 2020 when she moved from Durham to Gainesville, Georgia, to be closer to her daughter Anne. She passed away there on April 6, 2024. She is survived by her daughter Anne Trotter and son-in-law Rob Trotter, her grandsons Adam and Evan Trotter, and her son Brian Evans and daughter-in-law Theresa Harris.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 is in charge of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Frances (Copeland) Evans, please visit our floral store.