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photos courtesy of the Le Fevre and Nelon families

Eva Mae Gallery - VIEW

by Judy Nelon

Eva Mae Le Fevre began playing organ at her dad’s church in South Carolina at a very young age. When a couple of traveling brothers sang at the church Urias Le Fevre told his brother Alpus he was going to marry this talented young girl someday. He kept his word and in 1934 their marriage was the beginning of a gospel music dynasty and story lasting over 75 years. The Le Fevre legacy continues as son Mylon, now in the ministry, after a successful recording career, and Mylon’s daughter Summer married to gospel rocker Peter Furler of the Newsboys continues as the third generation.

The Le Fevre Trio blazed a trail that put the singers on stage and television with numerous family members and friends finally making the trio a nationally known quartet. Several bass singers came and went, but the one that stuck and finally bought the group and publishing entities was Rex Nelon, a devoted friend.

Eva Mae Le Fevre will be remembered not only as the “First Lady of Gospel Music” but also as a very sweet, quiet natured supportive friend, always concerned and listening to others. But with a powerful chuckle that drew crowds on it’s own too.

Her husband, Urias, a strong willed Frenchman, took care of business and Eva Mae even with her soft personality, commanded the stage displaying her accomplished piano artistry, strong alto voice along with her unique ability to emcee the concerts, reading a crowd in choosing the right songs as no other before or since her time.

Eva Mae appeared as glamorous as anyone that has ever walked onto a stage could look, but things were not always easy, though she was not known to complain. In the beginning the Le Fevres often rode all night from city to city sitting up in a car, long before touring buses were part of the traveling scheme which later made it so much more tolerable for the traveling artists.

She gave birth to five children; Pierce, Meurice, Andrea, Mylon and Monteia, which presented its challenges with the groups demanding touring schedule that often left her weary with worry. But she never gave up and by the time the children were all grown, Urias and Alphus retired from the road she only knew what she had been doing all her life and continued to do until into her 90’s with her friends. Mark Fuller a devoted and loyal friend kept her going as long as she wanted to sing.

Besides being a beautiful and talented lady she was also known for her quick humor. She was comfortable with her stories and old enough to get by with telling just about anything she thought would get a good laugh. Bill Gaither loved having her out on the Homecoming tours where he could count on her quick wit and banter on stage with him. When he asked her age, she answered with the explanation; “your age is like pregnancy, everyone will eventually find out anyway.”

There is nothing clever to say at the end of what is a feeble attempt to share a little glimpse into a life that touched so many for so long. Her life was huge, the effect was significant: there is no one lined up to step into her shoes. She’ll be missed and always remembered. I’ll miss her calls.

Eva Mae Gallery - VIEW

Eva Mae's story by Mark Fuller - READ

© 2009 The Judy Nelon Group / GospelMusicUpdate.com