Philadelphia pays tribute to influential civic leader

Family and friends of Samuel London Evans paid tribute to the longtime civic leader and fearsome kingmaker yesterday in a first-ever wake inside City Hall.

For six hours, Evans' body lay in state as mourners stopped at his open casket and speakers held forth with praise - and lovingly backhanded compliments - about his prowess as a powerbroker.

"His hand was in everything. His voice was heard everywhere. While you never really knew how much power he had, most of us never had the guts to find out," said Mayor Nutter, eliciting chuckles and hallelujahs.

The standing-room-only event, attended by more than 125 mourners, took place amid the carved marble walls and mosaic floor of chandelier-lit Conversation Hall. A spokesman for the mayor said it was the first such ceremony inside City Hall and was arranged at the request of Gov. Rendell.

Evans, patriarch of the city's African American political establishment, whose American Foundation for Negro Affairs (AFNA), founded in 1968, mentored generations of future black leaders, died June 13 at 105. Following a funeral service today at Bright Hope Baptist Church in North Philadelphia, he will be buried in Bala Cynwyd.

"I know Sam is probably pulling together St. Peter and saying, 'Who's in charge here? If we can pull together a coalition . . . we can take over this place,' " said Evans' friend, Tommy Leonard.

"Now get this!" District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham said when it was her turn to speak. "Now get this! Nobody ever had a conversation with Samuel London Evans without hearing those words. He would sit you down in that rocking chair in his office and then you would listen for a very long time."

Never elected to public office, Evans wielded influence behind the scenes.

He organized Philadelphia's 43,000-member contingent to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic March on Washington in 1963.

As a concert producer, he brought chamber musicians to the city for performances at the Academy of Music.

In the program for yesterday's ceremony, he was described as an "educator, philanthropist, visionary, impresario and world citizen" known to intimates as "The Godfather."

Charles Hammock, 67, an AFNA board member, is a former state representative who was elected in 1970 with Evans' support.

He said Evans was active until just before his death.

"We talked about the future legacy of AFNA," said Hammock, noting that over the years the group provided mentoring for 800 future doctors, 700 lawyers, 100 Ph.D.'s and 5,000 college graduates.

During the viewing, Lawrence Johnson, 64, doffed his navy-blue ball cap and stood respectfully before Evans' casket.

"I went to his last five or six birthday parties," said Johnson, who married Evans' niece. "I can remember his dinners for the Family of Black Leaders. He would talk about the Declaration of Independence. About slavery. About education, which he believed was the key to all success. He was a wise old man, believe me."

Susanna Foo said Evans was a good customer who helped arrange financing when she wanted to buy the building that houses her restaurant at 15th and Walnut Streets.

"My father said. when you meet noble people, you will always remember," said Foo, adding that she will always remember Evans.

"He was a great person to have as a friend, and you didn't want to have him as an enemy," said Zenos Frudakis, the sculptor whose bronze bust of Evans sat in his modest office at 17th and Sansom Streets.

Retha Kelly, 85, Evans' daughter, is a retired nurse who lives in Wilmington. She said she spoke to her father every day near the end of his life.

Of yesterday's sendoff, she said, "He loved this city. He stuck his nose into everybody's business in Philadelphia. I think he would be proud."

A viewing for Samuel L. Evans will be from 8 to 9:45 a.m. at Bright Hope Baptist Church, 12th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, where a celebration of life will begin at 10. Burial will follow in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd.