On Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm there will be a repast in the fellowship hall. Eva J. Cofield was born on February 19, 1934, in the small town of Mount Pleasant, Florida, as the cherished firstborn of William T. Jones and Corrie Alma Barnes Jones. She was later joined by her two brothers, William and Victor. The family faced an early tragedy when Eva’s father passed away while her mother was pregnant with their fourth child, Harry. After his passing, Eva’s mother made the difficult decision to send her children to live with relatives while she relocated to Miami to give birth. The family was eventually reunited in Miami, where Eva spent her formative years. When Eva was in high school, her mother remarried Roosevelt Jackson, and they settled in Richmond Heights, Florida.
Eva accepted Christ as her personal Savior at a young age and joined Bethel Missionary Baptist Church (now The Bethel Church) in Richmond Heights. Under the leadership of Reverend L. Ross and later Reverend C.J. Walker, Sr., and Apostle Carlos L. Malone, Eva served her church community faithfully. Over the years, she held various roles, including president of the junior usher board, a member of the hospitality committee, and a Sunday School teacher. She also helped establish the church’s mass choir and participated in the Voices of Praise choir under the direction of Dr. Alexandria Holloway.
Eva pursued her education in the Miami-Dade County Public School system, attending Phyllis Wheatley Elementary and graduating from Booker T. Washington High School in 1952. After a year spent caring for her mother, she enrolled at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education, ranking in the top 10% of her class. She remained a dedicated alumna of FAMU and a proud supporter of the Rattlers.
While at FAMU, Eva met her first husband, Randall Russell Harris, and together they welcomed their daughter, Karen Evette Harris Hawkins-Dixon. Following their separation, Eva returned to Miami and embarked on a pioneering career in education. She was among the first Black teachers to integrate Miami-Dade County Public Schools during the 1960s, facing adversity with strength and resilience. Eva taught at several schools, including R.R. Moton Elementary, Holmes Elementary, and Cutler Ridge Elementary, where she courageously participated in a teacher’s strike advocating for fair treatment.
It was during this period that Eva met military officer Curtis James Cofield. The couple formed a deep friendship and eventually married. Their union took Eva to Germany, where their son, Carl Jay Cofield, was born. Despite the challenges of military life and motherhood, Eva continued her passion for teaching, educating students in Fulda and Ansbach, West Germany. She also worked as a civilian educational officer, teaching science to soldiers.
After returning to the United States, the Cofields settled in Omaha, Nebraska, where Eva taught at Kennedy Elementary. The family later moved to El Paso, Texas, where Eva earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Sul Ross State University and completed advanced studies toward a doctorate. Though she did not finish her doctoral degree, she earned an education specialist degree and served as a role model for countless others pursuing higher education. Eva took great pride in mentoring her children—Dr. Karen Harris Hawkins-Dixon and Carl J. Cofield—nurturing their dreams of success.
While in Texas, Eva fulfilled a long-held dream of joining Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA). In 1974, she became a member of the ETA PI Omega Chapter, and her involvement grew as she played key roles within the organization, including serving as a founding member of the Pi Delta Omega Chapter in Miami. Eva held numerous leadership positions at both local and regional levels, dedicating over 50 years to the sorority’s mission of “serving all mankind.”
After an amicable separation, Eva and her children returned to Miami in 1975, where she resumed her teaching career. She retired in 1997 after a distinguished career with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, having been nominated twice for Teacher of the Year and receiving a monetary award from the State of Florida for her exceptional work. Even in retirement, Eva’s passion for education endured, and she spent an additional decade as an adjunct professor at Miami-Dade Community College.
In 2007, Eva retired from teaching but continued to counsel and connect with those around her. Her warmth, humor, and nurturing spirit left an indelible mark on her family and friends. Eva treasured the moments spent with her loved ones, whether traveling with her daughter to see Carl’s theater performances, attending family reunions, or participating in AKA conferences. Her joy for life was evident in every interaction, and she will be remembered for her infectious laughter, love, and generosity.
On September 7, 2024, Eva peacefully passed away, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and service. She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, brother William Bell, and sisters-in-law Mae Jones and Barbara Bell. Eva is survived by her children, Dr. Karen H. Hawkins-Dixon (James) and Carl Jay Cofield (Marina); her grandsons, Dr. Curtis J. Hawkins, Cassius Cofield, and Langston Cofield; her brothers, Victor (Linda) Jones and Harry Jones; her sister-in-law, Yvonne Bell; her cousin, Priscilla Kruize; and a large circle of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will cherish her memory.
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