Starkville says goodbye to Charles ‘LaLa’ Evans  (index.html)  (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/18/starkville-says-goodbye-charles-lala-evans/?outputType=amp)                               (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon.ico@d=598&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-16x16.png@d=598&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-32x32.png@d=598&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-48x48.png@d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-167x167.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)    (../../../../pf/dist/components/output-types/default.css@d=598&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/dist/components/combinations/default.css@d=598&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/__global/css/style.css@d=598&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/wtva/css/main.css@d=598&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.7.2/css/all.min.css)     (index.html#main) Skip to content (https://www.wtva.com/)        (https://www.wtva.com/)     (https://www.wtva.com/livestream) Watch Live  (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/news) Videos  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us              (https://www.wtva.com/homepage) Homepage   (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live   (https://www.wtva.com/news) News   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/local/) Local   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/mississippi) Mississippi   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/alabama/) Alabama   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/national/) National      (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/alerts) Alerts   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/radar) Radar   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/maproom) Forecast Maps   (https://www.wtva.com/page/list-of-local-storm-shelters/) Storm Shelters   (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content/) Submit Weather Pictures/Videos   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/closings) Closings   (https://weathercallservices.com/wtva-nexgen) WeatherCall   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/cams) Cameras   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/junior-weather-authority) Junior Weather Authority   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/elijah-experiments) Elijah Experiments      (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/high-school/) High School   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/friday-night-fever) Friday Night Fever   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/scoreboard/) Friday Night Fever Scores   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/college) College   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/national) National   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/05/14/wtva-air-several-atlanta-braves-games-throughout-regular-season/) Atlanta Braves on WTVA      (https://www.wtva.com/page/download-our-apps/) Download WTVA Apps   (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts   (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wtva/browse) Obituaries   (https://www.wtva.com/community) Community   (https://www.wtva.com/community/senior-fair) Senior Health Fair   (https://www.wtva.com/community/studio-9) Studio 9 with Tanya Carter   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/06/04/tickets-2026-tupelo-st-jude-dream-home-giveaway-go-sale-june-25/) Tupelo St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway   (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/community/johnny-stars) Johnny D. Talks to the Stars   (https://www.wtva.com/community/made-in-mississippi-americas-music) Mississippi Made: America’s Music   (https://www.wtva.com/community/ask-the-experts) Ask the Experts   (https://www.wtva.com/community/medical-minute) Medical Minute   (https://www.wtva.com/community/legally-speaking) Legally Speaking   (https://www.wtva.com/community/calendar) Community Calendar      (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios   (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise with WTVA   (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Job Openings   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-noon-show-studio-9-interview-request/) Schedule Noon/Studio 9 Interview   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-station-tours) Station Tours   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-accepting-news-weather-and-sports-internships) Internships   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History      (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule   (https://www.wtva.com/page/nextgen) NextGen TV   (https://www.wtva.com/powernation) Powernation   (https://www.investigatetv.com/) InvestigateTV   (https://www.aginguntold.com/) Aging Untold   (https://www.wtva.com/watching-your-wallet) Watching Your Wallet   (https://www.localnewslive.com/news/national/) Local News Live   (https://graymedia.com/assets/pdf/Gray_AI_Policy.pdf) Gray AI Policy    (https://www.facebook.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.x.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.instagram.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGZ3rWmXAfs4iZi-Hr2Ahgg)   (https://www.tiktok.com/@wtva9news)             Starkville says goodbye to Charles ‘LaLa’ Evans        Family and friends gathered Saturday, Oct. 17, to say their final goodbyes to Charles “LaLa” Evans. LaLa was a local trailblazer whose love story captured heart    By (https://www.wtva.com/authors/shawanda-jones/) Shawanda Jones    Published: Oct. 18, 2026 at 12:24 AM EDT | Updated: 6 hours ago     Share     (https://google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.wtva.com)  Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google      STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) — Family and friends gathered Saturday, Oct. 17, to say their final goodbyes to Charles “LaLa” Evans. LaLa was a local trailblazer whose love story captured hearts across the country. Evans, 93, was laid to rest following a horse-drawn carriage procession. He made history as Starkville’s first Black mail carrier and Mississippi State University’s first Black bus driver. Evans also worked to preserve the history of Needmore. Needmore is one of Starkville’s oldest historically Black neighborhoods. He helped secure recognition for the community through its community center and a historical marker.   But beyond his accomplishments, Evans was known for his devotion to his late wife, Louise. Louise Evans, LaLa’s wife, passed away one month before their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Evans then created LaLa Land, a memorial filled with photographs and memories of their life together. Their love story later inspired MUTEMATH’s music video “Monument” and led to an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show . Family members remember Evans for his contagious smile, love of music and commitment to keeping his family close.  Evans died October 6, but his family says his legacy of love and service will live on. As his niece recalled one of his favorite sayings, “It’s all good.”  Copyright 2026 WTVA. All rights reserved.            Most Read   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/17/wtva-friday-night-fever-week-8-highlights-scores/) (Amory took on Shannon on Oct. 16, 2026.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/17/wtva-friday-night-fever-week-8-highlights-scores/)   WTVA Friday Night Fever Week 8 Highlights and Scores       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/16/dateline-air-tippah-county-case-betrayal-kirby-carpenter/) (The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter | Dateline NBC)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/16/dateline-air-tippah-county-case-betrayal-kirby-carpenter/)   ‘Dateline’ to air Tippah County case ‘The Betrayal of Kirby Carpenter’       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/1-teen-dead-1-teen-arrested-homicide/) (Jaquarious Brooks and Landyn Brooks were arrested in connection with the investigation into...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/1-teen-dead-1-teen-arrested-homicide/)   1 teen dead, 2 teens arrested in homicide       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/16/3-men-arrested-child-sex-crimes/) ((L-R): David Ibarra, Bobby Crump, Anthony Thornton arrested in Baldwyn, Mississippi)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/16/3-men-arrested-child-sex-crimes/)   3 men arrested on child sex crimes        (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/elderly-man-killed-home-invasion/) (The incident happened at a home on County Road 176 in Union County, Mississippi.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/elderly-man-killed-home-invasion/)   Elderly man killed in home invasion       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/some-sus-s-going-what-nolan-wells-friends-said-texts-after-he-mysteriously-disappeared/) (Nolan Wells went to Horn Island in Mississippi with friends to celebrate the July 4 holiday...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/some-sus-s-going-what-nolan-wells-friends-said-texts-after-he-mysteriously-disappeared/)   ’Some sus s--- going on’: What Nolan Wells’ friends said in texts after he mysteriously disappeared       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/mississippi-releases-letter-grades-schools-districts/) (Mississippi education graphic)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/mississippi-releases-letter-grades-schools-districts/) Mississippi releases letter grades for schools and districts       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/14/kamala-harris-campaign-scott-colom-columbus/) (The Nevada State Democratic Party hosted former Vice President Kamala Harris for a fireside...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/14/kamala-harris-campaign-scott-colom-columbus/)   Time announced for Scott Colom’s rally featuring Kamala Harris in Columbus         Latest News   (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/18/starkville-says-goodbye-charles-lala-evans/) (Family and friends gathered Saturday, Oct. 17, to say their final goodbyes to Charles “LaLa”...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/18/starkville-says-goodbye-charles-lala-evans/) Starkville says goodbye to Charles ‘LaLa’ Evans       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/18/11-acre-woods-fire-contained-west-pontotoc-county/) (An 11-acre woods fire is contained in Pontotoc County)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/18/11-acre-woods-fire-contained-west-pontotoc-county/)   11-acre woods fire contained in west Pontotoc County       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/18/11-acre-woods-fire-contained-west-pontotoc-county/) (Multiple fire departments and the Mississippi Forestry Commission responded to an 11-acre...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/18/11-acre-woods-fire-contained-west-pontotoc-county/) 11-acre woods fire contained in west Pontotoc County       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/17/wtva-friday-night-fever-week-8-highlights-scores/) (Amory took on Shannon on Oct. 16, 2026.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/17/wtva-friday-night-fever-week-8-highlights-scores/)   WTVA Friday Night Fever Week 8 Highlights and Scores       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/17/friday-night-fever-looks-ahead-college-football-oct-17-part-3/) (A look ahead at college football games set for Oct. 17.)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/17/friday-night-fever-looks-ahead-college-football-oct-17-part-3/) Friday Night Fever looks ahead at college football for Oct. 17 (part 3)       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/17/friday-night-fever-scores-highlights-oct-16-part-2/) (High school football continued Friday night across Mississippi and Alabama.)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/17/friday-night-fever-scores-highlights-oct-16-part-2/) Friday Night Fever scores and highlights from Oct. 16 (part 2)       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/17/friday-night-fever-scores-highlights-oct-16-part-1/) (High school football continued Friday night across Mississippi and Alabama.)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/17/friday-night-fever-scores-highlights-oct-16-part-1/) Friday Night Fever scores and highlights from Oct. 16 (part 1)                    (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History  (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule  (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts  (https://www.wtva.com/news/national) National  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios  (https://www.wtva.com/news/aging-untold) Aging Untold  (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content) User Content  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us  (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live  (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Careers  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise With Us  (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests    WTVA 1359 Beech Springs Rd. Saltillo, MS 38866 (662) 842-7620        (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/tv-profile/WTVA?id=74148) Public Inspection File  (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/44b0393b-6e1d-d077-2286-c4dce8204a03/e419083c-81a2-421f-8307-ef9e06a9d5cf.pdf) EEO Report  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gdm/fcc/wtva-fcc_applications.pdf) FCC Applications  (https://www.wtva.com/page/closed-captioning/) Closed Captioning/Audio Description  (https://www.wtva.com/terms-of-service/) Terms of Service  (https://www.wtva.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy  (mailto:traffic@wtva.com) Traffic Contact Email  (tel:662-842-7620) 662-842-7620  (https://www.wtva.com/advertising) Advertising    (https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/Gray-AI-Policy.pdf) Click here to learn more about our approach to artificial intelligence.  A Gray Local Media Station © 2002-2026