Eva Lillie Alston

Obituary for Eva Alston

Our Matriarch: A Life Well Lived

On Monday, February 16, 2026, Eva Lillie Alston at 92 years of age, took her eternal rest in the Lord. Eva was born in Jetersville, Virginia on March 22, 1933, to the late Esther Trent Anderson and the late Lewis Windfield Anderson. Eva just so happened to be born on her brother, the late Louis Irving Anderson’s (June) third birthday. They celebrated their birthday together every year until his passing in 1998.

Eva was educated in the Amelia County School system, where she graduated from Russell Grove High School in June 1949 at the age of 16. She had the opportunity to attend Virginia State University (then known as Virginia State College for Negroes) immediately after graduating from high school. Instead, Eva decided to move to New York City to be with her mother, brother, and other relatives.

In October 1953, Eva married the late George Washington Cole. Their daughter, Maxine Elaine, was born out of their union. Eva and George divorced, and some years later, Eva found love again. In 1965, Eva married the late James Henry Alston, and from their union, her second daughter, Cynthia Renee, was born. Eva and James remained married until James’ sudden passing in 1972. Eva never married again and was a widow for the remaining 54 years of her life.

After working various jobs, the New York Telephone Company hired Eva, where she retired after nearly 30 years of service. Eva began her career at the Telephone Company as a telephone operator. Telephone operators managed telephone calls by manually connecting, disconnecting, and directing lines through a switchboard. As technology advanced, the need for telephone operators began to fade. Eva, who was highly intelligent and a lifelong learner, was trained and ready to take advantage of other opportunities offered by the company to advance her career. By the time Eva retired from the phone company, it had become the Verizon we know today.

Eva, a woman of faith, had been a member of the church since she was a child, where she accepted Jesus into her life. As a child, she joined Macedonia Baptist Church in Rice, Virginia. Later in 1980, Eva and Cynthia both joined Greater Zion Hill Baptist Church (GZHBC) in New York City. Eva became a Trustee and remained a member of GZHBC until she retired and moved back to Virginia. Once Eva moved back to Virginia, she rejoined Macedonia Baptist Church, where she also served as a Trustee until she moved to Maryland and joined New Home Baptist Church. Eva was a member of New Home Baptist Church until her death.

Eva loved her family, family gatherings, and cooking. She would whip up something to eat for anyone who stopped by to see her. She would always say, “I love to see people eat.” Eva also loved music, dancing, playing games, and completing her crossword puzzles.

Eva touched many lives and leaves to cherish her memories, her two daughters, Maxine Cole and Cynthia Moore (Lennon); four grandsons, Maurice Ingram, Brian Ingram, Sr. (Jasmine), Christopher Moore, and James Moore; two great-grandchildren, Brian Ingram, Jr. and Brielle Ingram, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Eva was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, niece, and nephew.