Uncrowned Community Builders

Evelyn DeWalt Kemp was a native of Newberry, South Carolina. She moved to Buffalo with her family when she was 9 years old and attended Buffalo School 32. She graduated from Hutchinson-Central High School. Mrs. Kemp attended Canisius College at night on an Oishei Scholarship and received a bachelor's degree. A scholarship in her name was created at Faith Baptist Church in honor of the accomplishment, according to her family.

For 34 years, she was employed at Trico Products, where she worked on the windshield wiper line, retiring in the 1980s. Mrs. Kemp was a member of Paramount Chapter No. 57, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliated. She held many local offices, including the grand worthy matron. At the state level, she held the office of grand lecturer and conducted workshops for chapters throughout New York State.

She also was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Epsilon Omega Chapter. During her long and active service, she held many offices, including chairman of the Telephone Tree Committee. In 1999, she was elected the Chapter's outstanding member, the Soror of the Year.

A member of Faith Baptist Church since 1954, Mrs. Kemp served as choir president, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. She played on the church's bowling league and was a member of the Pastoral Search Committee.

Her husband of 65 years, John, died in 2008. At the time of her death, Mrs. Kemp was 95 years old. She has a surviving daughter, Alicia D. Givens.