Evana Jackson was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and lived on a plantation. She came to Cleveland, Ohio in 1944.

Evana’s family including herself, had two sisters and a brother. They all moved to Cleveland and lived on Charity Avenue across from Charity Hospital. She loved seeing the housing, buildings, and streetcars. They all lived with their Aunt for about six months.

The family later moved and lived on the first floor of a two family duplex, on 97thStreet off of Cedar. On the second floor was a member of East Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Sister Julia Golatt. She was the President of the Missionary Society at EMZ. She asked Evana’s mother could she take her children to Sunday school. She said Evana couldn’t go to SS because she didn’t have a coat. Mrs. Golatt made her a pretty red coat and jacket so she could. All of the siblings went to EMZ Sunday school and church services. Evana was in Sister Wilhite’s Sunday school class in the Primary Department.