Ernest Benjamin "Toot" Evans Jr. was born on August 8, 1940, to the late Ernest Evans Sr. and Rosie Evans in Wiggins, Mississippi. At an early age, he professed his faith in Christ and became a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church (UMC), which later became H. A. Brown Memorial United Methodist Church. Ernest served on many church committees while holding multiple additional roles within the church including Chairperson of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee; Treasurer of the United Methodist Men; Member of the Board of Trustees; an Usher, Maintenance/Custodian, Security Guard and "The Cook". Within the community, he was also a member of the Stone County-Wide Usher Board, New Zion Utility Association, Stone County Male Chorus, Stone County Gospel Singers, and an overseer of Bond Cemetery.

Following his matriculation from Locker High School, Ernest went on to work for a government contractor building rocket launchers located at NASA John C. Stennis Space Center. After several years, he found employment as a Supervisor/Forklift Operator with Brown and Miller Pickle Plant which later became Beatrice Foods. Toot was a jack of all trades and mastered every one of them. He was the go-to person for everyone in the family and many, many people in the community. People loved being in his presence because of his warm spirit and one-of-a-kind sense of humor.

Ernest was united in holy matrimony to Jessie Marie Crockrum on December 24, 1963. This union was blessed with 58 years of love and happiness.

He was preceded in death by his son, Victor Evans; his parents, Rosie and Ernest Evans Sr.; four brothers: Matthew Evans, Walter Evans, J.D. Corbett, and William Evans; and one sister, Bonnie Johnson.

He will forever be cherished by his loving and devoted wife, Jessie Marie of Wiggins, MS; three daughters: Angela Roberts of Gulfport, MS, Desiree' Magee of Wiggins, MS, and Tameyia (Phi) Vu of Ocean Springs, MS; five grandsons: William Roberts Jr., Leon Vu, Evan Magee, Kai Vu, and Kenzo Vu; one granddaughter, Reagan Magee; one great-grandson, Kiaro Kendrick; like a son, Kevin (Avis) Stubbs; special friends: Hubert "Jamaica" Smith, Steve Chambers, James Guinn Sr., and Jerry Watts; brothers-in-law: John Crockrum, James Crockrum, Edward (Minnie) Crockrum, Tyrone (Shelia) Davis, and David Johnson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.