Clifford M. Evans

Clifford M. Evans, 72, died November 14, 2025, at his home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, West Hanover Township, releasing him from a decades-long battle with serious illness and injury. A private memorial service will be held with immediate family. But in true Clifford-spirit, a Celebration of Life for family and friends will be planned for Spring 2026.

The only child of Lula Marie Evans (née Saunders) and Lushion Alston, Clifford was born on April 23, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan. After the passing of his mother in 1956, Clifford moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, to live with his grandmother, Mary Viola Saunders. During the Indianapolis years, Clifford lived with "Grandmother" as well as with several aunts and uncles intermittently, including his favorite aunt, Dollie Green. In 1964, he moved back to Detroit, where another beloved aunt, Agatha Dillard, took him into her family, becoming his adoptive mother.

Clifford met Christine Clark in 1971 at the Black Workers Congress in Gary, Indiana. The two married in 1973, gave birth to their first daughter in 1974, and their second daughter two years later. The family moved to Philadelphia in 1978 in pursuit of education and opportunity. To support his family, Clifford began studying Liberal Arts at Temple University and transferred to Thomas Jefferson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Nursing degree in 1982. Following an employment opportunity, Clifford, Christine, and the girls moved to Morgantown, West Virginia, in 1985, where Clifford worked as a psychiatric nurse for the Monongahela General Hospital. The family then relocated again in 1988 to State College, Pennsylvania, where Clifford worked as a nurse, then a nurse manager at the Meadows Psychiatric Center.

After a successful and inspiring career in nursing and nurse management, Clifford pursued an advanced degree at the Pennsylvania State University, where he wrote several papers on mental health and community nursing, then published his thesis entitled "Cultural Competence in Mental Health Education: A Community Health Promotion Project." In 1997, he earned his Master's in Education in Biobehavioral Health and began working as a psychotherapist in the university's Psychology Department until his retirement in 2019 because of illness.

Clifford is preceded by both his parents, his sister Paula Robinson, his brother Rodney Robinson, and one of his favorite cousins, Uziel Lee. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Dr. Christine Clark-Evans, and daughters, Michael Peace (m. Alfred Peace) and Rita Evans. Additionally, Clifford leaves behind his grandchildren Xavier and Simone Peace, his sisters Kara Dillard and Kimbly Ridgeway (m. Jerel Ridgeway), as well as a host of cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends.

While at Penn State, Clifford DJ-ed parties and community events for the Forum on Black Affairs and other organizations, following his passion for music, especially funk, R&B, 70s Rock, and 90s Hip Hop/dance music. He enjoyed cooking, dancing, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren.

Clifford was a politically minded civil rights activist who loved humanity except for enemies of the people.