Eva Mae LeFevre

Eva Mae LeFevre (née Whittington; August 7, 1917 – May 18, 2009) was an American southern gospel musician. She was considered a "pioneer of gospel music" and was dubbed the "First Lady of Gospel Music". LeFevre led a career which lasted four decades with The LeFevres. She gained additional notoriety for her appearances on the Gaither Homecoming tapings throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Early life Eva Mae LeFevre (née Whittington) was born August 7, 1917 in McColl, South Carolina. Her father, Reverend H. L. Whittington, was a Church of God revivalist and church planter. She was a child prodigy and began playing the piano and organ at an early age. Reportedly, she was able to play the instruments by ear at age six.

Career She married Urias LeFevre in 1934 at Tremont Avenue Church of God in Greenville, South Carolina. Urias already started the LeFevres singing duo with his brother, Alphus, in 1921. She later joined the LeFevre family as its alto and pianist.

The LeFevres moved to Atlanta in 1939 and began performing locally. Soon after, they struck a contract with local radio station WGST and hosted a weekly singing broadcast.

During World War II, Urias and his brother were drafted to serve in the U.S. military. LeFevre remained stateside and continued to sing with the Homeland Harmony Quartet and raise her three children, Pierce, Meurice, and Andrea. She was buried at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta.