Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Mourns Passing of Gospel Music Icon Dr. Lou Della Evans-Reid at 94
Was founding member of iconic church that fellowshipped with Nation of Islam
CHICAGO — Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church and the wider gospel community are mourning the loss of Dr. Lou Della Evans‑Reid, who died at the age of 94. Her extraordinary influence over more than seven decades helped shape the sound and heart of gospel music worldwide.
Dr. Evans‑Reid was the only woman present at the founding of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in 1950, alongside her brother, the late Rev. Dr. Clay Evans. She became the church’s first pianist and, in 1963, its pioneering Minister of Music—a groundbreaking achievement for a woman in that era. Under her guidance, Fellowship’s choir rose to national prominence.
Her legacy is inseparable from Chicago’s towering role in the evolution of gospel music. Yes, Chicago is often referred to as the birthplace of modern gospel, Chicago nurtured legends such as Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, and Albertina Walker. Churches like Fellowship served as incubators for a powerful spiritual and musical tradition that blended deep southern roots with the urban pulse of the Great Migration. Dr. Evans‑Reid stood at the forefront of this legacy, helping to carry gospel music from local pews to global stages.
Her legacy intertwines with the spiritual and civic leadership of Rev. Clay Evans, a noted civil rights advocate and longtime pastor of Fellowship. Rev. Evans notably opened his church to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from city leadership. During a civic service following his passing, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot commemorated Evans’s life, stating, “Reverend Clay Evans often told us it is no secret what God can do, and his life was proof of that” as referenced in The Final Call.
Dr. Evans‑Reid’s life also intersected with the broader Black liberation movement and interfaith collaboration. Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church developed a historic bond with the Nation of Islam through ties between Rev. Clay Evans and Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. At a tribute marking her brother’s homegoing in December 2019, Minister Farrakhan praised the pastor as “a reflection of Jesus,” urging those in attendance to “live Jesus Christ” as Evans did in, reads The Final Call. Earlier, at a celebration of Rev. Evans’s 92nd birthday, Farrakhan remarked, “When Reverend Jackson introduced me to Reverend Clay Evans, I met the mind of Christ in a man” , said Minister Farrakhan in The Final Call.
This deep bond of spiritual kinship and shared purpose underscores Dr. Evans‑Reid’s commitment to uniting through worship and community. Minister Farrakhan has described Fellowship as part of “the exquisite beauty of the Black church:”(finalcall.com).
Dr. Evans‑Reid’s musical influence extended beyond Chicago. She founded the Lou Della Evans‑Reid Traditional Gospel Choir and played an integral role in the Gospel Music According to Chicago Mass Choir. Her classic arrangements—including “It Is Well,” “More Love to Thee,” and “Close to Thee”—have become cornerstones of gospel repertoire.
Rev. Reginald W. Sharpe Jr., Senior Pastor of Fellowship, reflected on her legacy: “Her life was a medley of faith, humility, and dedication.” He added that her example of service “will echo through generations.”
An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Arkansas Baptist College, Dr. Evans‑Reid continued teaching and mentoring well past her retirement, guided by her personal credo: “Remain humble, stay at His feet, and to God be the glory for the things He has done.”
Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church encourages the public to honor her life and legacy, echoing Psalm 103:1: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”
