Evelyn Dunlap

Evelyn Dunlap was born in the quiet town of York, one of 12 children—10 daughters and two sons—blessed to Israel and Ola Dunlap. From her earliest days, Evelyn's life was rooted in unwavering faith, extraordinary kindness, and profound gratitude. She would grow to become a beacon of grace and unconditional love, not only within her family but throughout her church and the wider community she served with such devotion.

Evelyn bore and raised six children as a single mother, making countless sacrifices with grace and gratitude, ensuring they were nurtured with unconditional love and empowered through education. Though she left school herself to care for her children—a decision she made with characteristic grace and without complaint—she instilled in them the importance of learning, perseverance, and dignity. She showed gratitude for every small victory in their lives, and her children's success became her greatest joy. Their character, shaped by her kindness and faith, remains her true legacy.

Evelyn was a woman of profound and unwavering faith that served as the bedrock of her existence. A devout Christian, she was deeply committed to her church, serving not only as a long-standing usher but eventually as President of the Usher Board—a role she held with honor and humility until she gracefully passed the mantle to her successor, Hunter Tate. She adored Sunday school, where her favorite teacher, Michael, inspired her spiritually, and she showed deep gratitude for his teachings. She often referred to her beloved pastor, Reverend Gregory, as her son, a testament to the familial bonds of love she formed through her faith community.

Her spiritual life was matched only by her boundless kindness toward others. Evelyn believed in demonstrating God's love through service—feeding the hungry, clothing the cold, and lifting up the downtrodden with genuine compassion. It was not uncommon to find her in the community giving away gloves, scarves, or meals, each gift offered with grace, humility, and heartfelt kindness. She treated all people with extraordinary kindness and respect—never seeing race, never judging, always loving unconditionally. Her faith didn't live in words alone—it lived in every act of kindness, every grateful prayer, every warm embrace offered with grace.

A gifted cook and lover of gospel music, Evelyn filled every space she entered with warmth, joy, and gratitude for life's blessings. She cherished her role as daughter, caring for her parents with unconditional love and deep gratitude for all they had given her, especially her father, Papa Israel, who lived with her until his passing. The strength and grace she showed in caregiving was nothing short of extraordinary—a testament to her faith that was tested time and time again yet never faltered.

Evelyn lived to be 95 years old, the longest-living of her siblings—a blessing for which she expressed constant gratitude. Her life was a living testimony to faith, kindness, gratitude, love, and grace. Even in her final moments, she slipped away just as she had lived—peacefully, gracefully, and with complete faith in God's plan.

To her youngest son, JonPierre Carlo, Evelyn entrusted the sacred task of returning home to care for her. He describes this not as a duty, but as the greatest assignment God could have ever given him—a reflection of the gratitude and unconditional love she had instilled in him. With the support of Rajeev and Brian Kelleher at NVIDIA, JonPierre was able to be at her side, where he belonged, demonstrating the same kindness and devotion she had shown to others throughout her life.

That legacy of character and integrity—built on kindness, gratitude, faith, love, and grace—lives on in him and in the work of this foundation.

The Evelyn Dunlap Foundation, founded in her honor shortly after her passing on January 4, 2023, is a living tribute to her life's values. Every initiative reflects her kindness, every donation embodies her gratitude, and every act of service done in her name continues the story of a woman whose unwavering faith, unconditional love, and remarkable grace touched countless lives.

To every visitor and donor: you are now part of Evelyn's story. As you walk through the work of this foundation, may you feel the kindness she demonstrated to everyone, the gratitude she expressed daily, the faith that never wavered, the love she gave unconditionally, and the grace with which she navigated every moment of her remarkable life.

We honor her. We remember her. We carry forward her legacy of kindness, gratitude, faith, love, and grace.