The late Lillie Evans Atwood was recently honored when the chapel at Alleghany Memorial Hospital was updated in her name by members of her family. Atwood raised not only her own children, but also took in two of her brothers after her parents died.

Family updates chapel in Atwood’s honor

The chapel at Alleghany Memorial Hospital was recently renovated, due, in part, to Lillie Evans Atwood, an Alleghany woman who was more than a big sister to Sparta resident Oscar “Doc” Evans.

As a means to honor his late sister, he and her sons, Larry and Boyden Atwood, set the wheels in motion to renovate the chapel, which in late January, according to Evans, contained “a bunch of chairs and a stained glass window.” The idea of the renovation spurred from the men’s last hospital visit with Mrs. Atwood. “We thought the room was not fitting for prayer, so we returned to Lillie’s bedside where we prayed,” Evans said.

Mrs. Atwood passed away at the age of 93 on Jan. 28. The mother of three left behind two of her children, a brother, 10 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Shortly after her passing, Evans and the Atwood brothers spoke with former hospital Chief Executive Officer Kevin Harlan about their ideas for improving the chapel.

“The boys and I wanted to contribute to the room’s atmosphere so people would feel they could leave their loved ones to have a private prayer as opposed to praying in front of others. There are some who feel uncomfortable doing so, after all.”

The chapel, with the help of Richard Nichols “and his crew” now includes crosses on either side of the wall, as well as on the door; an altar from which to pray and pictures including the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord’s Supper.

“The chapel is now available to anyone (who) needs a special place to pray any time the need arises,” Evans said. “It (also) gives a minister a place to meet with the family if and when needed, such as a sickness or death of a loved one.”

Life with Lillie

Evans recently shared what it was like living with his older sister. Months away from turning 13-years-old, a young Oscar “Doc” Evans lost the two people he held most dear to him in less than one month’s time to pneumonia. Evans’ 54-year-old father, Emmett, passed away on March 7, 1937.

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