Gladys Helen Cleage Evans was born September 29, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan to Dr. Albert B. and Pearl (Reed) Cleage, Sr. She was the sixth of seven siblings. She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. E. Warren Evans, parents and siblings, Albert Jr., Louis, Henry, Hugh and Anna Cleage Shreve.

Gladys was raised in Detroit and attended Wingert Elemetary School and Northwestern High School. She graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Education and post graduate Master's Degree studies at the University of Detroit. An artist and educator, she spent 25 years teaching art and later retired from the Detroit Public School District. She was a member of the Shrine of the Black Madonna, sang in the choir, served on the usher board and contributed largely to the Cultural Center.


She married Dr. E. Warren Evans and to that union four children were born, Warren, Dale, Jan and Blair.
Gladys was a very talented artist who also enjoyed ice skating, jazz and reading. She enjoyed nature and spent a lot of time with family in Idlewild, Michigan.

Gladys was the epitome of subtlety and charm who always delivered her message gracefully. She loved her family and enjoyed collecting and displaying their photographs.


She leaves to cherish her memory: Sons, Warren Cleage, Blair Hugh (Susan), Dale Courtney and Daughter, Jan (Leonard) Peterson. Granddaughters, Erikka MacNeal (Roderick), Shashu Dawson (Riggs), Nikki Studstill (John), Jann Shreve, Sadya Shreve and one Grandson, Kamau (Melissa) Peterson and 10 great grandchildren - Justice, Kendall, Bailey, Camden, Cassius, Lyric, Blake, Cruz, Raye and John Henry. Her sister, Barbara Cleage Martin. Nieces, Kristin, Pearl, Anna and Maria and a nephew, Ernest. And a host of other relatives and great friends.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations are made in her honor to JAA Scholarship Fund.


Mail to:
700 Seward Detroit, MI 48202

Attention: Mary Blackmon