Meet Josie
Josie Evans is a woman of many roles. Spouse, mother, doctoral student, U.S. Army Veteran, and following her husband’s death, donor wife.
A child of the south, Josie was born and raised in Alabama, where she currently lives. As she says, “I grew up in the deep, deep south. There weren’t many options. My parents didn’t have the funding to send us to college.” Josie chose to enlist in the U.S. Army, where she eventually met her future husband, Julian Evans, when they were both TAC Officers at the Warrant Officer Career Center. She recalls clearly their first meeting with a laugh, saying, “I couldn’t stand him. He gave me the hardest time! Once I got to know his personality, I realized this was more of a flirting technique.”
They married in 2013 – all while serving multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following their military service, Josie and Julian used their Veteran benefits to pursue higher education, earning their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Valuing the importance of education, they established scholarships in honor of their late fathers to allow children from all walks of life to pursue higher education.
Josie describes Julian as “a silent giver. If a kid needed a laptop or an iPad, or something for school, he’d find a way to get it for them. He helped homeless vets, worked at a soup kitchen, and more.”
Registering as Eye, Organ, and Tissue Donors
Josie and Julian talked about their decisions should anything happen to either of them. “We talked about being organ donors. We didn’t think it would happen this early, but we had that conversation, and both decided to be donors.”
A lot of people are aware that they can give organs, or that they can give tissue. But not as many people are aware that they can donate their corneas.”
Julian passed away in July of 2023. Reflecting on his decision to donate, she says, “It makes me feel really proud, knowing someone else has the ability to have a better life because of the sacrifice. That’s Julian!”
Julian’s Impact and Memory
Since Julian’s passing, Josie keeps his memory and legacy alive. She launched the CW5 Julian A. Evans III Scholarship Foundation, which established three scholarships for eligible high school seniors. The foundation hosts an annual fundraising ball to support the scholarships.
Beyond the foundation, Josie is pursuing her Doctoral degree in psychology, and is a passionate advocate for eye, organ, and donor registration. She uses Julian as her example of how the gift of donation is life-transforming.
‘There’s no better gift than the gift of life. There’s no better gift and being able to help someone achieve something they desire to do. If there’s a person out there you can save or help see – you just do it. There’s no better feeling.”
As one of the individuals profiled for 2024 Eye Donation Month, Josie tells us, “I can see clearly now the massive impact that being a donor has, and how it betters the world. I can see clearly how love can be spread. I can see clearly how a loved one can live through someone else. I can see clearly how the impact of death can still influence life in a positive way. You can look back and not mourn, but smile, knowing that someone else has the ability to live a better life because of the sacrifice.
You can be a donor hero like Julian; register as an eye, organ, and tissue donor today.
