[Mpls] A Remembrance of Evelyn Eubanks 1957-2005

[Socialist2001 at cs.com]

Evelyn Eubanks died last week at the age of 47 years after a long illness. 
Evelyn was diagnosed as having cancer in 1995, and underwent a surgical 
proceedure that bought her a lot more time than she expected. Several hundred friends, 
relatives and others attended the funeral. There was no published notice of 
her death or funeral service.

To me, Evelyn Eubanks was a friend, a mentor, and for several years a close 
collaborator in the field of educational rights advocacy. Evelyn Eubanks had a 
strong sense of purpose, was very assertive, uncompromising in matters of 
principle, and on many levels, was the most intelligent person I have ever 
encountered. She also had a wonderful sense of humor. 

I met Evelyn when we were members of the NAACP and involved with the 
educational adequacy lawsuit in 1998. I served with Evelyn on the Parents Union Board 
of directors from 1998 to 2001, and raised hell with her in other venues more 
recently. 

Evelyn was well known and in high demand as a volunteer advocate for students 
and parents in the school system, wrote well, and was as an outstanding 
orator. I especially liked Evelyn's 'angry speeches' to the school board. 

Evelyn worked through "the system" for many years, and was probably near the 
head of the line for a seat on the school board when she endorsed the NAACP's 
educational adequacy lawsuit in 1995. Evelyn's resume included service on 
school district improvement committees, on the board of at least one charter 
school, and as president of the citywide PTA.

-Doug Mann, King Field