Mrs. Evelyn Steele

Mrs. Evelyn Meadows Steele, 97, of Cartersville, Georgia, passed on to her heavenly home on October 23, 2021. She was laid to rest at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, following a graveside service on October 27, 2021. A celebration of her life will be held later at Martha Bowman UMC in Macon, on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., where the family will greet friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Epworth By The Sea, 100 Arthur J. Moore Drive, St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522, St. Simons United Methodist Church, 624 Ocean Blvd, St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522, or Martha Bowman United Methodist Church, 500 Bass Road, Macon, Georgia 31210 or marthabowman.org/giving. 

Mrs. Steele was born on February 1, 1924, in Cochran, Georgia to Walker A. and Annie Helms Meadows. She was a graduate of Cochran High School and the University of Georgia. Upon receiving her degree in Home Economics, she taught for two years at Cochran High, then moved to Columbus, Georgia to work as a Home Economist for Georgia Power. There she met Rev. Charles E. “Ned” Steele, who was serving his first pastorate at Sherwood Methodist Church. They wed in 1951 and were married for 62 years, until his death in 2013.

Evelyn was a loving and supportive pastor’s wife and mother to three girls, the youngest of which had special needs. Her many roles as a mother included being a dedicated caregiver and advocate for Sandra. She taught Sunday School, was active in the United Methodist Women, and served on the board of Wesley Glen (the United Methodist home for adults with disabilities in Macon). She enjoyed preparing wonderful meals for her family and others until recent years and was known as a gracious hostess. Evelyn had a wide circle of friends from churches all over the South Georgia Conference where she and Ned served before retiring to St. Simons Island in 1989. They lived there for 17 years before moving to Macon to be closer to their girls.

Mrs. Steele is survived by her daughters, Suzanne Johnson (Dave), of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Sally Black (David), of Cartersville, Georgia; grandson, Hayes Johnson (Mary Katherine); great-grandchildren, Liam and Hannah Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Charles E. “Ned” Steele; youngest daughter, Sandra Kay Steele; her parents; and 3 siblings and their spouses.