Evans, age 34 and with two young sons (Joseph Jr. and Conkey), immediately took over the family's business affairs and real estate assets.

[3] Since her sons were financially well off, in 1945 she established the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation, which received her entire estate upon her death eight years later.

Evans was a devout Episcopalian, and gave generously to the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia which was formed in 1919 and encompassed both her hometown and residence after her sons were grown.

[2] She also donated generously to the Virginia Theological Seminary which in 1998 established an award to honor lay church leaders in her name.

[4] Evans served as a trustee of Emory University, Agnes Scott College, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the American Hospital of Paris.

In memorial upon her death the Coca-Cola Board noted that "Endowed with material things, she had a conviction that she held them as trustee for the poor, the meek and the unfortunate.