Eula "Evelina" Fortune Bridgwater

Evelina Fortune Bridgwater, 78, of Stagebridge Road, Lovingston, VA, departed her life Sunday evening (February 6, 2022) at UVA Hospital in Charlottesville.  She was affectionately known as “Mama” “Grandma” “Lina” “EV” by family and friends. She was born April 7, 1943, in Albemarle County, to the late George Thomas Fortune, Jr., and Eula Seay Fortune. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant son and husband, Malcolm E. “Mac” Bridgwater, Sr., in 2006. Evelina was an active member of Oak Hill Baptist Church of Davis Creek, in which she sang in the choir and participated in bakeoffs and charity events.  She was a proud mother of three children and five grandchildren.  She managed the Bridgwater Farm Operations and in her earlier life, she worked at State Farm and worked alongside her husband assisting with farm work and raising her three children.  She was a very talented baker in which she made wedding cakes for all her children as well as her recent granddaughter’s wedding in 2021.  She was very talented with arts and crafts, as well as a seamstress and costume designer, one of the most famous being an Elvis Outfit used over the years by her brothers during their musical performances. She is survived by a son, William “Billy” L. Bridgwater, II (wife Diane), a daughter, Karen B. Drumheller (husband Gerald), a son, Malcolm “Little Mac” E. Bridgwater, Jr., (wife Jenny), all of Lovingston; a brother Tommy Fortune and his wife Belinda of Stuarts Draft, a brother Mike Fortune and his wife Joyce of Lovingston, a brother Dennis “D D” Fortune and his wife BJ of Charlottesville, and a sister, Sylvia Fortune “Bo Bo” of Charlottesville; five wonderful grandkids: Corrine (Noah), Megan, Kiley, Malcolm, and Jared; nieces and nephews; as well as great nieces and great nephews.

A service will be conducted Saturday, February 12, 2022, at 12:00 PM, at Oak Hill Baptist Church with Pastor Bryan Painter officiating.  Visitation and meal following service.  A private family interment will follow at the Bridgwater Family Cemetery in Lovingston.

 The family wishes to thank everyone for all the calls, cards, prayers, and well wishes in our time of need.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Oak Hill Baptist Church, 725 Davis Creek Lane, Lovingston, VA 22949.  Arrangements by the Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel of Lovingston (434-263-4097).