Mother Savanna Evans Newell, 91, of Erie, PA, passed away on Friday, July 17, 2026 surrounded by her loving family.

Mother Savanna Evans Newell was born on March 8, 1935 in Meridian, Mississippi to the late Bertha Mae Bester Evans and Charlie Evans. She was born weighing less than a pound and was carried around in a flannel pillowcase.

Mother Newell was one of four children – one sister- Flora Mae Jordan of Mobile, Alabama, two brothers – Moose Evans of Los Angeles, California, and deceased brother Irvin Trotter. As a child, Mother loved to ride motorcycles, play baseball, and liked tying firecrackers to the tail of a cat and setting it on fire in the house.

She is a license beautician and loved doing hair. She could put a press n curl in your head that would last for weeks. Mother attended Gannon University for Business Administration. She was a certified Nurses Assistance, retiring from The Sister of Mercy Infirmary. She also catered for executive luncheons at Marine Bank.

Mother Newell loved caring for the sick, entertaining, cooking, and traveling; she was always active in church. She served as a Sunday school teacher and Superintendent for many years at the Second Baptist Church. She was active in "Church Women United", as well as leading and coordinating several church events. She was an active member of Greater Calvary FGBC.

She married the love of her life Deacon Virgil L. Newell on December 16, 1958; and moved to Erie, PA in 1960. On August 23, 1966 a baby girl, named Sharon was born to the Newell union. Mother Newell has three grandchildren – Tylee, Rodney, and Sidney Jones, one God grandson Emery Sparks, one great grandson Romero Jones-Newell. She also raised her nephew Dennis Windham of Mississippi and niece Donna Smith of Los Angeles; she has five Godchildren: Arthur Gilmore, Kenneth Vaughns, Monique Jones, Bridgette Howze Combs, and Corinthia Stewart, her spiritual children: Deacon Beatrice Bandy, Min Kenny Mattock, Sis. Henrietta Beason, Pastor Yolanda Thomas, Sis. Debbie Roberson, Sis. Edna Anabui, Elder Rose Cosby; close friends: Mrs. Senora Butler, and Glenda Arrington. Niece and nephew Ruben, Carolyn, and Jordan, along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Mother Savanna Newell leaves a legacy of faith, and hope, she will be deeply missed by all that knew and loved her.