Evelyn Labode: A scholarship inspired by advocacy and service

For the late Evelyn Elaine Labode, JD’92, and her family, names have always carried deep meaning — faith, hope, courage, heritage, and the promise to keep showing up for others. Now, Evelyn’s name continues to open doors for future lawyers through the Evelyn E. Labode Scholarship at the Creighton School of Law. 

As her daughter, Creighton alumna Ayo Labode, JD’97, shared: “My mother’s foundation was love — the most courageous, accepting kind — always rooted in the belief that every one of us is a child of God. 

“Education changed her life, and Creighton became a special place for her. She loved learning. She loved helping others. This scholarship is our way to make sure her name keeps helping others too — just like she always did.” 
 

Make a gift to the Evelyn E. Labode Scholarship

Born in Virginia in 1940, Evelyn’s belief in the power of education and advocacy started early, inspired by her own mother, Lillian Sutton — a devout Catholic who worked tirelessly to ensure her children had every opportunity possible.  

When Evelyn was a young girl, the family moved to Baltimore as part of the Great Migration. Evelyn attended Saint Frances Academy, where the Oblate Sisters of Providence — Black Catholic sisters — played a formative role. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French and education from the College of Notre Dame.  

Evelyn continued her studies at the University of Kansas, where she met her husband, Bode, an engineering student from Ibadan, Nigeria, studying on scholarship. For the Labode family, names also became a bridge between generations and cultures. 

“Ayo, Modupe, and Moyo — our first names are all derived from our father’s name,” Ayo explains. “We each also have Catholic middle names: mine is Grace, my sister’s is Gloria, and my brother’s is Martin, in honor of St. Martin de Porres.” 

According to Evelyn’s family, growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, witnessing the passage of the Voting Rights Act, and attending the March on Washington in 1963 all had a profound impact on her.  

“One thing I’ve always thought was interesting — before I was born, my mom was studying in France and came home early to attend the March,” Ayo says. “That says a lot about her — her advocacy started long before she became a lawyer.” 

After graduating from the University of Kansas, Evelyn and Bode moved to Muscatine, Iowa, where she taught high school and worked to expand mental health services in rural communities. 

“My mother did so many things, including working for the Stanley Foundation on peace and justice issues,” says Modupe. “But she always had a deep passion for the law and how it could make the world fairer.  

“She often spoke about the March on Washington — the energy, the speakers, the sheer number of people gathered in hope. Those experiences fueled her passion for justice and her belief that the law could be a tool for good.” 

In 1988, the Labode’s moved to Omaha for Bode’s new job. He and Evelyn agreed it was time for her to pursue her dream — and she did, enrolling at Creighton University School of Law with the help of a scholarship. In 1992, Evelyn earned her Juris Doctor from Creighton. 

“She wanted to continue her education at a faith-based institution, and Creighton became a very special place for her,” says Moyo. “She loved going to Mass. She took classes year-round and truly embraced her Jesuit education. She loved Creighton.” 

Evelyn’s commitment to children and families shaped her legal career. At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Children, Families and the Law, she trained teams statewide on adoption laws and the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, always fighting for children from minority communities.  

She did significant work related to the Indian Child Welfare Act. Advocating for tribal sovereignty and helping to keep Native families together became an important part of her career.  Her colleague Mark Ells, JD’78, remembers her as “the iron fist in a velvet glove.” 

“Evelyn wouldn’t back down from anything or anyone,” he says. “But she did everything with kindness. Everybody has a story.” 

Evelyn and Mark spent a decade together training legal teams, social workers, and probation officers across Nebraska — helping them understand how to truly advocate for youth within the court system. In retirement, Evelyn stayed deeply engaged, serving as a commissioner on the Douglas County Housing Authority and helping raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. 

When she passed away in 2011, just shy of her 70th birthday, her community honored her with the Nebraska Juvenile Justice Association’s renamed Evelyn E. Labode Service to Youth Award, and Creighton Law School posthumously awarded her its prestigious alumni honor, the Judge Elizabeth D. Pittman Award.   

In 2015, Bode created the Evelyn E. Labode Scholarship at Creighton, with support from the family — Ayo and James Scott, BSN’97; Moyo and Treena Labode; and Modupe.  

“Evelyn’s values and legacy are incredible examples of our Jesuit mission and will continue to inspire all who follow in her footsteps. We are honored to carry her spirit forward and deeply grateful to the Labode family for making this scholarship possible.” 

— Joshua Fershée, JD, dean of the School of Law.

Evelyn was passionate about juvenile justice and believed every child deserved to be heard. “Students can best honor her memory by continuing that work, wherever they are,” says Mark. “Even in private practice — make sure children’s voices are heard. That was Evelyn’s real concern.” 

Her legacy also lives on through her grandchildren — Madison and twins Malachi and Hope. Malachi is named after the last book of the Old Testament, meaning “messenger.” Hope, as Ayo says, “says it all — the Holy Spirit, promise, everything.” 

Scholarships like the Evelyn E. Labode Scholarship help Creighton students pursue their calling to serve others. Scholarships remain a top priority in the Forward Blue campaign.