A Love That Transcends Time: Charles “LaLa” Evans and His Eternal Tribute to Louise

A love that will truly last for eternity!

Charles “LaLa” Evans and his beloved late wife, Louise, shared nearly six decades of unwavering devotion—59 years and 11 months—before her sudden passing in 2011. Their bond, which began in their teenage years, became one of the most enduring love stories in Mississippi history. After losing Louise, Evans decided to honor their journey in the most touching way possible: by transforming part of their home into a living museum celebrating their life together. Today, that tribute—known as “LaLa and Louise’s Place”—stands in Starkville, Mississippi, filled with thousands of photographs chronicling their shared memories (Great Big Story).

Evans and Louise met as teenagers, attending the same church and school in the tight-knit community of Starkville. Evans fondly recalls the day he first walked her home, a moment that would shape the rest of his life. “That George Evans’ son? Well, that boy’s from some pretty good stock. He all right,” Louise’s father remarked approvingly, as Evans remembered with a smile (CNN).

Their romance blossomed through high school, culminating in their first official date at the senior prom in 1951. Just months later, in August of that year, the two were married—without a ring but overflowing with love and faith in each other. On the morning of their wedding, Evans was still at work shining shoes, a job he proudly held before later joining the U.S. Army. He served until 1955, and shortly after returning home, the couple built their first house with the help of a small loan—a home Evans still resides in today.

Settling into Starkville’s Needmore neighborhood, one of the city’s earliest African American communities, the Evanses thrived despite the racial challenges of the Jim Crow South. Louise worked in local cafés after desegregation, while Charles made local history as Starkville’s first Black mail carrier, serving his community faithfully for three decades (The Washington Post). Together, they raised two sons, born 18 years apart, and poured their energy into uplifting their neighborhood—lobbying to rename the local recreation space Needmore Community Center and helping to install a historical marker at George Evans Park, named after Charles’s father.

“We were always community people,” Evans said. “That was our way of giving back.”

Throughout their marriage, Evans and Louise meticulously documented their life together. They took thousands of photographs—snapshots of birthdays, holidays, quiet evenings, and moments of laughter. “Louise never passed up an opportunity to take a picture,” Evans told reporters. “And I don’t think I ever took a bad picture of her.”

When Louise passed away unexpectedly, those treasured photos became the foundation of a new mission. Evans built what he lovingly calls “LaLa Land”, a backyard museum filled with memories of their life together—something they had dreamed of doing but never completed while she was alive. The museum quickly became a local treasure and caught national attention after being featured by Great Big Story and The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2016, where Evans’s story inspired millions with its message of enduring love (EllenTube, Great Big Story).

“We had such a beautiful life,” Evans said in an interview. “I’ve got so much to remember, and I’m just living a beautiful memory.”

Now in his nineties, Evans continues to maintain the museum as best he can, though time and weather have taken their toll. Recent storms have caused significant damage, leaving the structure in what he calls “the worst shape it’s ever been.” Still, he remains determined to keep it standing. “It’s hard to keep up with,” he told WCBI News, “but it’s still my comfort zone.”

Despite the challenges, Evans says he has no regrets about dedicating his later years to preserving their story. Sitting among the photographs, listening to old records that once filled their home, he finds peace in the memories they built together.

“It brings back such memories,” he said softly. “I can come out here and reminisce, play our music, and look over my past… I have no regrets.”

For Evans, every picture, every frame, every note of music is a reminder that true love never really fades—it simply transforms. Through his museum and his memories, the spirit of “LaLa and Louise” continues to inspire all who visit.