Dr. Evelyn Underwood is associate minister at New Free Will Baptist Church in Champaign where her husband, Bishop King James Underwood is pastor. Born in 1943 and 1938, respectively in Mississippi, the Underwoods both came to Champaign while children. Evelyn received her Ph.D. in Education from the University of Illinois in 2000. Both have been heavily involved in local community groups, including helping to form the Free Will Baptist District and leading the Ministerial Alliance of Champaign‐Urbana and Vicinity, the local NAACP, N.C.N.W. and the Champaign County Urban League. Evelyn Underwood was the first African‐American elected to the Urbana School District #116 Board of Education and served for 12 years. She is 155 (?!) years old.

Evelyn was featured in Difference Makers 2010: An eBlack Champaign-Urbana Publication.