Funeral service will be 1:00 P. M. on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at St. John Baptist Church in Bolivia, NC.  Burial will follow in the Evans Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.  Leroy H. Evans, a resident of Brooklyn, New York, departed this life at age 85 on Monday, December 4, 2023, at 11:17 a.m.  Leroy was the first son of the late Goldie Mae and Arthur May Evans.  He comes from a large family of 14 children.  He was born and raised in Bolivia, North Carolina, where he attended school in Piney Grove.  As the eldest child, he dropped out of school to work, and help take care of the family's farm.  In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by brothers Archie Lee Evans, Hubert Evans, Kersell Evans, and sisters Annie Frances Evans, Rosa Lane McMillian, and Gertrude Evans Bailey.  In the early 1960's, Leroy moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he met Susie Gourdine, and from their union, two children were born: Lisa Evans-Fuller and Leroy Gourdine.  He is survived by his lifelong companion, Susie Gourdine; daughter, Lisa Evans-Fuller (Anthony) Queens, New York; son, Leroy Gourdine (Letticia) Clanton, AL; three stepchildren, Shirley Snape (Humberto), Queens, New York, Betty Watkins, (Jimmie) Goose Creek, South Carolina, Crystal Gourdine, Brooklyn, New York; his siblings, Mary Lillie Smith Jordan (James) Bolivia, North Carolina, Carlton Hollis Evans (Linda), Leland, North Carolina, Hurley Evans (Carolyn), Wilmington, North Carolina, Thomas Ray Evans (Victoria), Augusta, Georgia, Ellen Evans, Bolivia, North Carolina, Arthur Evans, Jr. (Karen), Bolivia, North Carolina, and Bobby Evans (Joni), Southport, North Carolina.  Nine grandchildren, Shamecca Long, Long Island, New York, Shakima Long, Austin, Texas, Laniya Fuller, Queens, New York, Jimel Mincey, Queens, New York, Shaquana Mincey, Queens, New York, Latasha Noten, East Orange, New Jersey, Tyrel Gourdine, Brooklyn, New York, Anthony Fuller, Jr., Atlanta, Georgia, and Aaron Fuller, Queens, New York. Four great-grandchildren, Saniya Tention, Jayden Long, Lucille Fuller, and Mason Matos.  He had a grand puppy named Blaze, and two great grand dogs named Deuce and Honey.  A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and a favorite aide named Cynthia.  Leroy retired from George Tifling Import Export Trucking Company, Bronx, NY in 1978.  He loved listening to music, watching boxing, wrestling, all kinds of sports on television, discussing politics and making you laugh (he should've been a comedian). Throughout the years, he enjoyed traveling with his children back and forth from New York to North Carolina to spend time with family and friends. He will truly be missed!