Evelyn June Simons Gregory passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the age of 80, surrounded by her loving family and close friends at the Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Born on September 29, 1945, in Streator, Illinois, Evelyn lived a life marked by devotion to others, determination, punctuality, and unwavering dependability. Her childhood was deeply shaped by the close relationship she shared with her older sister, Pat. In 1963, she welcomed her only child, Sandy, and there was never a better mother. She married the love of her life, Truman Gregory Jr., in 1975, and in 1980, they made Pontotoc, Mississippi, their home. She spent the next 46 years investing in the lives of her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always looking for ways to nurture, encourage, and create opportunities for those she loved.

Evelyn worked for many years in the furniture industry, building lifelong friendships at Brookwood Furniture and Ashley Furniture. She especially enjoyed the adventurous opportunity to train employees in Vietnam and China before retiring in 2011. Retirement, however, simply meant new full-time work: supporting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, keeping up her yard and pool so family and friends always had a place to gather, and making sure no one ever left her home hungry.

Evelyn had a gift for making people feel welcome. Her home was beautiful and the smell of delicious meals or desserts regularly greeted guests. Despite being perfectly maintained, Evelyn always pleaded for people to ignore her “messy house.”

Evelyn’s faith in Jesus Christ was evident not only in what she said, but in how she lived. Love, to her, was showing up. She showed up weekly as a member of Liberty Baptist Church and rarely missed an opportunity to encourage those in her Senior Adult Ladies Sunday School Class. She filled the stands at softball and basketball games to cheer on her grandchildren as they played and later, as they coached. When the great-grandkids started playing sports, she hauled snacks and folding chairs all over north Mississippi. Funny enough, she had a much bigger snack budget for the great-grandkids than she ever did for the grandkids. Evelyn was the first to bring a meal, lend a hand, or simply be present when someone was hurting or in need. Whether it meant making the drive to Amory several times a week or flying halfway around the world to Uganda, distance was never an excuse when family or friends needed her.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Sandy Seger, and her husband, Tim Seger, of New Albany, Mississippi; her grandson, Michael Seger, and his wife, Kellie Seger, of Gulu, Uganda; her granddaughter, Jessica Seger of Amory, Mississippi; her seven great-grandchildren: Anthony Tucker, Brian Seger, Caden Seger, Braden Seger, Joseph Seger, JonMichael Seger, and Wesson Blake Seger Smith; her sister, Patricia Ann Simons Surrock, of Streator, Illinois; and her nephew, Brad Noble, and his wife, Julie Noble, of Pekin, Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Mary Eileen Mosell Simons; her beloved husband of 26 years, Truman Gregory, Jr.; her brother-in-law, Ronald “Squint” Surrock; her nephew, Robert J. Surrock; and her niece, Kara Ann Noble Marquez.

Pallbearers will be Tim Seger, Bubba Seger, Ray Hall, Brad Noble, Michael Moody, and Terry Pickens. Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Seger, Johnny Bramlitt, and her great-grandsons.

Services celebrating Evelyn’s life will be held Tuesday, August 11th , 2026, at United Funeral Service in New Albany, Mississippi. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m., with the funeral service immediately following at 2:00 p.m. Michael Seger will officiate. Jessica Seger will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be in the Warren Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to UG2 Ministries via UG2Ministries.epistle.org to help educate, disciple, and serve students in Uganda.