Eva Mae LeFevre, Home at Last

Eva Mae LeFevre passed away at 7:25 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2009, at age 91. She had been hospitalized in April for pneumonia at which time doctors also discovered a fractured hip.

Known as the First Lady of Gospel Music, Eva Mae LeFevre became the first living woman to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1978. Ten years later, she was the first gospel music inductee into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Eva Mae first began singing and playing the piano as a young child at her father’s church in South Carolina. In 1934, she married Urias LeFevre and began a 40 year journey leading The Lefevres, which became one of the most beloved groups in gospel music history. Eva Mae’s trademark alto voice and piano artistry became a defining influence for the LeFevres. The group became staples on WGST radio, based out of their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. They later pioneered a gospel music television program, The Gospel Singing Caravan, while touring as many as 100,000 miles a year across North America.

After attempting to retire years ago, Eva Mae could never walk away from her love for gospel music. She continued to delight audiences across North America throughout her twilight years, both through Gaither Homecoming appearances and solo concerts. Today, she has joined her husband in eternity. Her spirit, her dignity, that flawless alto voice and contagious laugh, her quick sense of humor and unshakable faith in Christ was an inspiration to us all. She will be sorely missed.

 

 

Eva Mae's pianist, Mark Fuller , is carrying on her tradition with his "Lefevre piano styling" that helps recapture that legendary sound.

Eva Mae with her extremely talented pianist, Mr. Mark Fuller

 

For a video sample of a recent Eva Mae concert, click here to view.

Mark Fuller began playing piano when he was 7 years old back in 1968. His inspiration to play the piano came from watching the LeFevres on television at a very early age in the mid 60s. Mark was fascinated and thrilled with Eva Mae's piano style. Over his lifetime, Mark has studied Eva Mae's distinctly energetic piano stylings and has learned to faithfully reproduce her style so well that many folks have remarked that it seems they are actually hearing Eva Mae at her best. Bill Gaither often calls on Mark to play at his Homecoming concerts, and his version of the Southern Gospel classic, "Keep On The Firing Line" has become an audience favorite everywhere they go.

Mark saw Eva Mae for the first time in concert when he was 10 years old in 1971in Columbus, GA. Mark became personal friends with Eva Mae in 1979 and worked behind the scenes with her until 1998 when he became her full time pianist. Since then, Mark has added his singing to the program as well as his piano playing. Eva Mae shares the spotlight with pianist Mark Fuller on her latest 2005 CD Release titled "Safe In His Arms" on two instrumentals, including "Keep On The Firing Line," Mark's tribute to Eva Mae. Mark also adds his voice to the project by singing "Child of the King". Mark has recently released his first piano solo CD entitled "Southern Gospel Piano." You can click here to listen to audio clips from the new CD.

Click here to learn more about Mark Fuller.