SJR35INTRODUCED
Page 0
SJR35
PUTHGEE-1
By Senators Givhan, Butler, Waggoner, Bell, Roberts,
Albritton, Allen, Barfoot, Beasley, Carnley, Chambliss,
Chesteen, Coleman, Coleman-Madison, Elliott, Figures, Gudger,
Hatcher, Hovey, Jones, Kelley, Kitchens, Livingston, Melson,
Orr, Price, Sessions, Shelnutt, Singleton, Smitherman,
Stewart, Stutts, Weaver, Williams
RFD:
First Read: 05-Mar-25
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10 PUTHGEE-1 10/11/2024 lg (L)lg 2024-2734
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First Read: 05-Mar-25
SJR___ MOURNING THE DEATH AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JESSE
P. EVANS III.
WHEREAS, it is with profound sorrow and deep regret
that we record the passing of Jesse P. Evans III from
Birmingham, Alabama, on October 2, 2024, at the age of 73;
his passing leaves a void in the lives of his loving family,
many friends, and the Alabama legal community where he was
highly regarded; and
WHEREAS, a talented lawyer, author, professor,
woodworker, outdoorsman, and loving father and husband, he
was wonderfully blessed with a rich and abundant life; and
WHEREAS, Jesse Evans was an exceptional trial lawyer;
a partner at Evans and Evans, LLC, he represented clients in
a wide variety of matters, with a focus on real estate, for
over 40 years; during his accomplished career, he served as
lead counsel in approximately 200 jury trials; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Evans authored five editions of Alabama
Property Rights and Remedies and co-authored the recently
published Sixth Edition with his son, Price, which is widely
considered the leading work on real property law in Alabama
and serves as a vital resource for real estate attorneys;
furthermore, he served as a member of the Board of Editors
of the Alabama Lawyer; and
WHEREAS, Jesse Evans was a lawyer's lawyer who was
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WHEREAS, Jesse Evans was a lawyer's lawyer who was
exceedingly generous with his time and assistance to fellow
members of the bar who often consulted with him about
complex legal issues; he taught at Birmingham School of Law
and The University of Alabama School of Law for decades; and
WHEREAS, he was an esteemed member of the Real Estate
Study Committee of the Alabama Law Institute that reviews
and proposes to the Institute legislation and amendments to
existing legislation beneficial to the State of Alabama; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Evans received many awards and accolades
throughout his distinguished career, including being named
in The Best Lawyers in America© for Real Estate Law, Land
Use and Zoning Law, and Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
(since 1995); named by Alabama Super Lawyers to "Alabama Top
50" in 2011 and 2012; selected by the Birmingham Bar
Foundation as one of its 2015 Class of Fellows; elected by
the Birmingham Bar Foundation as a Life Fellow in 2017;
awarded membership to the American College of Real Estate
Lawyers in 2021; and selected as one of the 2015 Class of
Fellows by the American Bar Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Jesse Evans had an insatiable and curious
mind; his creativity is displayed through numerous
woodworking designs and projects, a talent he passed along
to his son, Martin; he also loved the outdoors and spent
countless days in the woods or on the water, and his sons
cherish the lifelong memories they created together; and
WHEREAS, while he was passionate about many things,
above all he adored his wife Dawn, also a lawyer, with whom
he shared many common interests, including traveling,
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he shared many common interests, including traveling,
cooking, politics, and the law; and
WHEREAS, Jesse Evans is preceded in death by his
father, Jesse Price Evans, Jr.; and father-in-law, Hugh
Platt Stith, III; he is survived by his wife, Dawn Stith
Evans; sons, Jesse Price Evans IV (Lucy) and Martin
Whitfield Evans (Lindsey); grandchildren, Rowland Whitfield
Evans, Thomas Shepherd Evans, Mary Clyde Agnes Evans, and
Sterling Allen Evans; step-mother, Barbara Morris Evans;
mother-in-law, Diane Stith; brothers, Clayton Webb Evans
(Angie) and Boyd Haney Evans; and a host of loved extended
family members and friends; and
WHEREAS, Jesse Evans' joie de vivre will shine on
through his family's vivid and happy memories, and his
insight and strength will continue to serve the countless
legal minds he influenced through his generosity of time and
self; and
WHEREAS, armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued
with an inquisitive and practical mind, he leaves behind a
legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will
remain as a comforting memory to all who were privileged to
have known and loved such an amazing man; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That the death of Jesse Price
Evans III is recorded with deep sadness, and this resolution
is offered in tribute to his life and service to others,
along with heartfelt sympathy to his family, whose grief is
shared by many.
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