Evonne A.J. Mondy

Evonne A.J. Mondy, 76, of Beaumont, died Friday, January 5, 2024, at Christus Southeast Texas-St. Elizabeth, Beaumont. She was born on July 2, 1947, to Margaret Hollins Jackson and Joe Jackson, in Fort Worth.

Evonne A.J. Mondy (Nana), to all that knew her, was a loving, caring and respected mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, friend and highly skilled social worker. She took great pride in sharing recipes and cooking meals with her grandchildren, especially her famous mac-in-cheese. She enjoyed passing on this knowledge to her grandkids.

Evonne graduated from I.M. Terrell of Fort Worth, Texas, in 1965. She then made the big move to south Texas for enrollment at Prairie View A&M. Being the first member of her family to go to college, she excelled in all of her studies. Her only notable exception was an incomplete interview with an icon. She was enroute to conduct the interview when she literally bumped into a massive figure. Evonne was in such awe that she was speechless. The man asked if she was ok, and all she could do was just nod yes. Muhammad Ali left the school later without being interviewed that day.

Evonne graduated from Prairie View A&M with a Bachelor of Arts and later earned her Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington. She would tell her son that she didn’t like it when people would say that she was lucky. It was the combination of hard work from her parents and herself, NOT LUCK. She would stress the importance of higher education with her family.

Evonne worked for the Lina Pope Home for children in Ft. Worth right out of college.  In 1974, Evonne accepted a career opportunity as a social worker for Veterans Affairs in Springfield, Massachusetts. She lived there for three years with her son (Kavan Mondy) before taking on a newly opened location in Beaumont, Texas.

She volunteered to be on the board of Triangle AIDS Network when it was first established, around 1986. It was the first organization providing support and services for HIV positive people at a time when it was a mysterious and feared illness. She invested her time, energy and wisdom there for many years. Being a social worker was more than a career, it was her passion.

At the VA everyone knew and respected Ms. Mondy. She was always generous with her time and words of wisdom and encouragement both to her patients and her fellow employees. She helped us all through the tough events in our lives. She would go on to retire in 2013.

The “posse” (Evonne, Polly, Dolores, and Debbie) always spent time together when they could, even after retirement and right before they all fell into old age.

Evonne enjoyed traveling. She was a devoted member of Our Mother of Mercy church and would regularly attend Saturday 4:30 pm mass until travel was difficult for her. She would watch church services on TV to make up for her physical absences.

Evonne made regular donations to St. Jude, Salvation Army, various Native American tribes and much more. She kept up with currents events and loved her word search puzzles.

Survivors include her son, Kavan V.J. Mondy and his wife, Melody, of Beaumont; grandchildren, Alexander C. Akoneto and his wife, Taylor, of Fort Riley, Kansas, and Micah Mondy, and Eva M. Mondy, both of Beaumont; great-grandchildren, Esai Akoneto and Kenai Red Hawk Akoneto, both of Fort Riley, Kansas; nieces, Carole A. Jackson of Fort Worth and Cynthia R. Stevenson of Arlington; great-nieces, Kayla Mathis of Fort Worth and Jasmine Mendez and her husband, Noe, of Lewis-McChord, Washington; and nephew, Larry Parker, Jr. of Fort Worth.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Felix Parker and Bennie Ray Jackson.

A gathering of Ms. Mondy’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, 3390 Sarah Street, Beaumont. Her graveside service will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 12, 2024, at Cedar Hill Memorial Park, 8301 Mansfield Highway, Arlington.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.