The Rev. Dr. Joseph Henry Evans of Sarasota, Fla., and the Vineyard, died April 12. He was 92.

A private family service was held this week. A memorial service is planned for May.

Reverend Evans received his undergraduate education from Western Michigan University and graduated from Yale Divinity School in 1942. That same year, he became pastor at Harlem’s Grace Congregational Church where, he said, he learned to preach and be himself. It was during his time at Grace Church that he met and married Harriette Fisher Clark.

In 1947, they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, when he was called to become the pastor at Mount Zion Congregational Church. Six years later, he became the pastor of his home church, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Chicago, Ill. He remained there until 1967, when he was elected secretary of the United Church of Christ, a position he held until 1983.

In 1976, upon the sudden death of the president of the United Church of Christ, Reverend Evans was chosen to assume an additional responsibility by becoming the third president of the United Church of Christ, a position he held for more than a year. He was the first, and has been the only, African American to serve in this position.

After his retirement in 1983, he continued to serve his church in many capacities, including as interim minister for churches in Chicago, Ill., Portland, Me., Amherst, N.H., and Norwell. He also served as the interim conference minister of the Ohio Conference of the United Church of Christ. He became an adjunct professor of preaching at the Hartford Theological Seminary in Connecticut. He received honorary degrees from Cedar Crest College, Western Michigan University and the Chicago Theological Seminary.

In 1990, he and his wife Harriette moved to Sarasota, Fla., where they continued to be involved in community and civic activities, and were devoted members of the First Congregrational United Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Harriette Clark Evans; his three daughters, Lesley Christian of Brookline, Harriette Smith of Plymouth and Barbara Edelin of Sarasota, Fla., and the Vineyard; a brother, Bruce Evans of Chicago, Ill.; a niece, Judith Evans Hendricks of Atlanta, Ga.; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, send contributions to the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1031 South Euclid avenue, Sarasota FL 34237, or Resurrection House Inc., 507 Kumquat court, Sarasota FL 34236, or United Black Christians, United Church of Christ, in care of Carol Brown, 700 Prospect avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.