A Soldier's Wife: My Mother, the Marvelous Mrs. Marilyn A. Underwood – A Son's Tribute to a Fashion Designer and Pioneering Executive

by Blair Underwood

In this moving biography and memoir, Blair Underwood, acclaimed star of film, stage, and television, pays homage to his mother, sharing her well-lived life, and key lessons learned as a fashion designer, mother, and soldier’s wife.

In this moving biography and memoir, Blair Underwood, acclaimed star of film, stage, and television, pays homage to his mother, sharing her well-lived life, and key lessons learned.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Marilyn Ann Scales Underwood dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. Moving to New York City to study at the Traphagen School of Fashion, she became an assistant designer and eventually returned to her hometown where she began her career as the first Black female executive at Barmon Brothers Company. Independent and content with being single, she wasn’t interested in marriage until she met Lieutenant Frank Underwood.

Blair Underwood honors his mother with this remarkable work, bringing into sharp focus her life as a soldier's wife, mother, and successful entrepreneur, drawn from his memories, her letters, and interviews with family and friends. Told thematically, and organized around essential pillars such as Wisdom, Faith, and Patience, Underwood gently peels back the layers of his mother’s life and character to reveal highly, triumphant, and sometimes-scary moments told in Marilyn’s warm and witty voice that connects with readers. Painting a wonderfully rich and deeply human portrait of a woman whose indelible mark is felt by all privileged to know her.

Genres: Biography, Memoir

208 pages, Hardcover

Published April 14, 2026

About the author

Blair Underwood, a Golden Globe--nominated actor, has received several NAACP Image Awards. Steven Barnes is the author of science fiction novels, including The Legacy of Heorot, and has produced such television shows as The Twilight Zone and Stargate. Tananarive Due is the American Book Award-winning author of six novels, including The Black Rose, My Soul to Keep, The Between, The Living Blood, and The Good House.

Series:
* Tennyson Hardwick

Reviews

[Shannon]

A great memorial and posthumous accomplishment for Blair Underwood's mom, who always wanted to write her memoir but never got the chance to finish it before she passed due to MS. This was an excellent disability memoir, but even more, an example of a woman who lived life to the fullest in service of God, her children and her husband but was never afraid to chase after her own dreams - enrolling in university in her 80s. It's a quick but powerful read and I enjoyed it more than I was expecting to. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

[Robin Loves Reading]

Admittedly, I picked up A Soldier’s Wife because of the author, Blair Underwood. I hadn’t read the blurb beforehand, so I went in completely unaware of what to expect - and found myself fully drawn into his mother’s story. In fact, the complete title says it all: A Soldier’s Wife: My Mother, the Marvelous Mrs. Marilyn A. Underwood.

Though relatively brief, this book shines a heartfelt spotlight on Underwood’s mother, Marilyn. It was especially interesting to learn about her early life and the experiences that shaped her. Through a blend of personal recollections, letters, and conversations with family members, Marilyn A. Underwood’s story unfolds in a way that feels both intimate and genuine.

The structure of the book is particularly thoughtful. Each chapter is built around strong, defining qualities - wisdom, devotion, perseverance, and more - and concludes with a meaningful takeaway tied to those themes. Adding to its charm, every chapter opens with a beautiful photograph of Marilyn, capturing moments from throughout her life and giving readers a deeper connection to the woman at the heart of the story.

While this book may not have widespread attention in terms of reviews, it’s one I would still recommend. What resonates most is how clearly Underwood loved his mother and how warmly he shares those memories. It’s a touching tribute that lingers long after the final page.

Many thanks to Amistad and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Jazisunray Skillern]

Born in Buffalo, New York, Marilyn Ann Scales Underwood’s story is one of ambition, resilience, and love—a journey beautifully recounted in this heartfelt tribute by her son, Blair Underwood. The book traces Marilyn’s early dreams of a career in fashion, her education in New York City, and her groundbreaking role as the first Black female executive at Barmon Brothers Company. These achievements alone are inspiring, but what makes this memoir truly special is how it delves into the intimate and universal aspects of her life: her unexpected romance with Lieutenant Frank Underwood, her experiences as a soldier’s wife, her dedication as a mother, and her successful entrepreneurial ventures.

Blair Underwood’s approach is both loving and honest. Rather than a straightforward chronology, the narrative unfolds thematically, allowing readers to appreciate the many facets of Marilyn’s character. Through letters, interviews, and cherished memories, Underwood reveals not just the triumphs but also the challenges, fears, and moments of doubt that shaped his mother’s remarkable journey. Marilyn’s warmth, humor, and wisdom shine through, making her story relatable and deeply moving.

Thank you, Blair Underwood, Amistad, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Portia]

This book was beautiful. Yes, I picked it up because of Blair Underwood, but I’m also not sure we would have this gem in the world if he were not who he is. Part biography, part memoir, this story shares an intimate look into the life of his mother. It was organized around the values that defined her and the pearls of wisdom she distilled, which worked really well for flow.

It was most heartening to read of Black love from a past that seems both worlds away and not that long ago. It was a story of race and gender without overtly being about race and gender in a way that bolstered Marilyn’s humanity.

This book was the one I didn’t know I needed. And we need more stories of Black women like this, just regular people curating the lives they deserve. I wrote more on my Substack, linked:
https://open.substack.com/pub/portiaa...

[Imajin Consulting]

(audiobook) Narrated by Blair Underwood and his sister - this rare, insightful look at their mom's life from her own point of view as she was writing a book about her life as a soldier's wife who had a whole journey and career prior to getting married. The gems of advice she shared with her children, lived by... are shared with us all by her children who capture her spirit both through written words in the book as well as their voices via the audiobook. Her passion, her talent and gift for having a positive, inspiring outlook even when faced with a life-changing illness - MS...

[Tomasina Cook]

I loved this book. It’s a beautiful memoir about the author’s mother, and I was especially drawn to the way it honors her history and deep love for her hometown. As someone from the Buffalo, NY area, I found it especially meaningful to learn more about that connection.

[Koren]

When Blair Underwood's mother passed away, she left a treasure trove of writings about her life. She always wanted to be an author, so her son made her dream come true and published her writings word for word. She led an interesting life and her love for family comes through in these writings.