CELEBRATION OF LOVE

SERVANT OF GOD

EVELYN FRANCIS BELLOW

ALPHA: 3/9/1935 OMEGA: 3/19/2024

In the beauty of God's creation came a bundle of fire and joy. Born Mary Evelyn Felix in Lafayette, Louisiana, to the late Onezine Felix and Olivia Andrus Felix, she is the firstborn of two daughters. Later, dropping the Mary part of her name, Evelyn worked throughout her young life with the intent to leave the 'country town of La Prairie Basse' and come to the City of Lake Charles, LA.

She married Herbert Clay at an early age, and of that union, one child was born, namely, Cynthia M. Clay. Upon moving to Lake Charles to make a new life for herself and her young child, she worked at "The Raven." In 1957, Lake Charles, a military town, was alive and jumping on the 500 block of Enterprise Blvd. Many a customer would come in to see the beautiful young lady from Lafayette. Evelyn soon decided that she could make money for herself as an entrepreneur and did the unthinkable as a woman, opening Evelyn's Lounge and Hotel at 519 Enterprise Blvd. The business thrived since Evelyn did not take any mess from anybody. She ran the Lounge and Hotel for 21 years with an iron fist, zero tolerance for any violence or shenanigans, and made a good life for her and her three children.

She met a tall, dark, and handsome musician, known by his stage name Sid Lawrence, whom she married. She and Lawrence Francis Jr.

worked together in the Lounge and Hotel. Of their union, two children were born, Michael D. Francis and Rachelle Y. Francis. Sid was severely injured in a head-on collision and later died from his injuries, leaving Evelyn as a young widow.

As fate would have it, she later met and married Phillip J. Bellow, and they became a blended family with Phillip's three daughters, Anastasia Bellow, Latasha, and Natasha Bellow. They, too, managed the Lounge and Hotel together until such time as Evelyn surrendered her life and accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. Evelyn grew up in the Catholic Faith and attended Mass daily at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was loved by the priest and sisters who were assigned to Sacred Heart; often, they visited her home for food and fellowship,

Despite the fact that she was new to the city, an elderly lady at 607 Enterprise Blvd. took an immediate liking to Evelyn and prophesied in her life that she would be successful. She also told her that she wanted her to buy her home, which God blessed Evelyn through a series of events and favor with God and man to purchase that same home. Evelyn was radically saved, and her whole life was turned upside down and inside out. She began ministering on the streets with her best friend "Pastor Leona." Evelyn worked in the tent ministry with Drew and Wanda Rousse, giving her all to saving those in her family, community, city, and state. She introduced all that she had met to the love and forgiveness that only Jesus gave.

Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, she turned her rent house on Boston Alley into Daily Bread Mission, feeding the homeless, drug addicts, and alcoholics. The motto repeated every day was "Everybody is somebody at Daily Bread."

The ministry initially operated on the income of Mama Evelyn and Philip. Donations came forth from throughout the city and state particularly the family, Dr. Washington, St. Patrick's Hospital, United Christian Fellowship, and others.

During this same time, Evelyn owned and operated Hope of Glory Women's Fashion, where she dressed the City of Lake Charles in "high fashion." Everyone knew Hope of Glory would have beautiful African designs for Black History Month. She was also the owner of the most famous hugest meatballs in town you could ever eat at Gos-Sphaghetti House for many years.

Mama Evelyn holds a special place in the hearts of her birth and bonus children, namely: Judge Cynthia Clay Guillory (her husband Sly), Michael Francis (his wife Tammy), Tasha Boddie (her husband Andrew), Nickie Mott (her husband Heath), Youlette Carter, Undria Fizer (wife Bridget), Jermaine Fizer, Leyah K. Charles (her husband Javoris), Dr. Mary Hunter, Valena Coco, Debra Parsons, Rose Alexander (her husband Dr. Raymond Young), Veronica Woodard, Shirley Hendrick Mitchell, Ethel Fields, Judge Sharon Wilson(her husband Kerrell), Cammie Robertson, Mardessa Jean (her husband Walter), Kenneth Malone, Harold Boutte (his wife Sujuan), Pastor Michael Honore (his wife Pastor Tina, Pastor Dennis Naicker (his wife Ann), Dr. Wilton Redd (his wife Pastor Faye), Terella Broussard, other bonus sons and daughters whom she loved tremendously.

MeMom spoiled her grandchildren Kevin Ray Lewis, III, Jeremiah Louis Clay Guillory, Harrylee Cay, Ananias Bellow, Miyah Bellow-Boddie, Cade and Cameron Boddie, Megan Higginbotham (wife Cre), Timothy Robertson, Cynthia Robertson Linscomb (husband Jason), Benjamin, Loren, Zion, Ruby, Nina, John, Kenyan, J'Kwon, Dejayanna and Xyshunn Fizer, Danisha, Alexis, and Edward Vizia, Mia and Mya Kelly, Aden Carter, Kerry & Maya Wilson. She loved, was extremely proud of, and mentored her many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

She also leaves to cherish her memories her sisters-in-law Sally Turbon, Ornadell Valmont, Catherine Pappion (husband Wilson), and Ophelia Collins (husband Donald). She also leaves her brothers-in-law Ferman Bellow, Herbert Guillory, and Allen Bellow (wife Maudry). Holding so many great memories of Evelyn are a host of cousins, pastors, ministers, and friends.

Mama Evelyn was preceded in death by her mother, Olivia Felix Dennis; her father, Onezine Felix, sister Gertie Fizer, brothers in law Andrew Fizer and Everett L. Turbon, daughters Rachelle Francis Griffin, Anastasia Bellow, son Wallace Robertson, husbands Herbert Clay, Lawrence Francis Jr, and Philip Bellow.

She was known by so many as Mama Evelyn, Mom, Sister Evelyn, Aunt Evelyn, Mother, MeMom, and Queen; her favorite scripture was "Is there anything too hard for God?"

Jeremiah 32:27 Genesis 18:14