Author Hal Evans leads Silsbee novel reading at Ice House Museum

Silsbee author explores love amid desegregation in "Come Day in Night" reading at local museum

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Hal Evans, a Silsbee author, will host a reading and discussion of his 2022 novel "Come Day in Night" at the Ice House Museum on Friday. The autobiographically-based story focuses on an ill-fated interracial relationship amid the desegregation of Silsbee public schools in the 1960s. The event is part of the museum's Black History Month programming and will give the audience a glimpse into Evans' personal experiences coming of age in post-desegregation Silsbee.

Why it matters

The novel explores the challenges and tensions that arose in Silsbee during the desegregation of its public schools, a pivotal moment in the town's history. The reading provides an opportunity for the community to reflect on this period and the lasting impact it had on local residents.

The details

Evans' novel "Come Day in Night" is a fictionalized account of his real-life relationship with a woman he refers to as "J.S." or "Teary Lee" in the book. The timeline of events has been shifted from the mid-1970s to 1968, and the names of people and places have been changed, but the core of the story remains rooted in Evans' personal experiences. The novel explores the obstacles the couple faced due to the racial prejudices that persisted in Silsbee even after desegregation.

  • The events in the novel take place in 1968.
  • The author reading and discussion will be held on Friday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Hal Evans

A Silsbee author who wrote the novel "Come Day in Night" based on his personal experiences coming of age in post-desegregation Silsbee.

Susan Shine Kilcrease

The Executive Director of the Ice House Museum who was determined to bring Evans' story to the museum's audience after reconnecting with him at another museum lecture.

J.S. ("Teary Lee")

The woman Evans refers to in his novel, with whom he had an ill-fated interracial relationship during the desegregation of Silsbee public schools.

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What they’re saying

“You can say I embrace diversity — always have.”

— Hal Evans, Author (beaumontenterprise.com)

“I just loved her to pieces. She had such a bright face, and she was always smiling.”

— Susan Shine Kilcrease, Executive Director, Ice House Museum (beaumontenterprise.com)

What’s next

Evans is already working on two sequels to "Come Day in Night" based on the lives of the main characters, Sam White and Teary Lee. Audience members may get a sneak peek at these upcoming stories during the author talk on Friday.

The takeaway

Hal Evans' novel "Come Day in Night" provides a powerful and personal account of the challenges and tensions that arose in Silsbee during the desegregation of its public schools, offering the community an opportunity to reflect on this pivotal moment in the town's history.