Marilyn Evans-Jones

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Marilyn B. Evans-Jones
46th district
In office
November 2, 1976 – November 2, 1982[1]
Preceded byJane W. Robinson
Succeeded byEverett A. Kelly
Personal details
Born(1928-11-19)November 19, 1928
DeLand, Florida
DiedJuly 23, 2021(2021-07-23) (aged 92)
Jacksonville, Florida
Political partyRepublican[2]
Spouse(s)Hugh Macaulay Evans, Sr., Edward E. Jones, Jr.[3][2]
ChildrenHugh, Daniel, Cecile and Mary Louise[2]
ResidenceMelbourne, Florida[3]
Alma materDuke University (Education, 1950)[3][2]
OccupationRealtor[3]

Marilyn Bailey Evans-Jones (November 19, 1928 – July 23, 2021) was a member of the

33rd district
from 1982 to 1986.

Early years and family

She was born in DeLand, Florida, on November 19, 1928, the daughter of Cecil C. Bailey, the Chairman of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission[3] and Augusta Mann Bailey. The family moved to Jacksonville in 1930.[4] She was raised and attended local schools in Jacksonville.[2] She was junior and senior year class president in high school, as well as student of the year.[2] She graduated from Duke University with a degree in education in 1950.[3][2] She married Hugh Macaulay Evans, Sr. immediately following graduation, and soon after became a mother of four children.[2]

Political career

After settling in Brevard County in 1963, she became president of Republican Women in South Brevard, and volunteered as a lobbyist for United Methodist Women and the League of Women Voters.[2] She worked on her husband, Hugh's campaign for a seat on the Brevard County Commission.[2] She ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives, and won, taking office in 1976.[2]

Florida House of Representatives

As a state representative, Evans-Jones worked to pass Florida's Child Safety Restraint Bill, and Clean Indoor Air Act.[2] She helped to establish adult day care centers and bring about reform in mental health institutions and prisons.[2]

In 1986 she ran for

Louis Frey, Jr. but they lost in the Republican primary to Bob Martinez, the former Republican mayor of Tampa.[2]

After ten years in the Florida Legislature, she retired and moved to Nassau County with her second husband Ed Jones, who had served as mayor of Fernandina Beach.[2]

Later career

In 1997, she served as a member of the Constitution Revision Commission,[5] where she supported redistricting by the judiciary.[2]

She was instrumental in the creation of Micah’s Place, a shelter for battered spouses.[2] Her volunteer activities have been recognized through awards such as the Eve Award for Volunteer Services in 2004 and the Heart of Gold Award for Senior Volunteer Activity in 2007.[2]

She served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention.[6] She died at her daughter's Jacksonville home on July 23, 2021.[7]

References

Preceded by Member of the
46th district

1976–1982
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the
33rd district

1982–1986
Succeeded by
Harry C. Goode, Jr.