NORFOLK, Va. — Greg Underwood, Norfolk's former top prosecutor, has died after a battle with cancer.
The announcement was made Sunday morning by his successor, Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi, on social media.
"Greg was an Air Force enlisted man and Officer, Legal Aid lawyer, defense lawyer, and prosecutor," Fatehi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "He served Norfolk faithfully as Commonwealth's Attorney for twelve years and was a champion for community outreach, interventions with young people, and criminal justice reform."
Underwood served as the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney from 2009 to 2021.
In his final years in office, Fatehi said Underwood embraced criminal justice reform, steering prosecutions away from marijuana arrests. Fatehi said Underwood also expanded the city's "Victim Witness Assistance Program into one of the largest in Virginia and to bring the first Family Justice Center to Virginia. He was a fixture at the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Major County Prosecutors Conferences."
Fatehi said Underwood was found unresponsive in his home on Saturday, and was pronounced dead. He had been battling lung cancer in recent months. He was 68 years old.
A service and burial are planned at Second Calvary Baptist Church, with details forthcoming.
Underwood "loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and, of course, his wife Gracie," Fatehi wrote on Facebook. "He loved justice. And he loved his God, and I know that he has placed himself once again in His hands."