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Mag Dora Chavis

FUNERAL HOME

Tri-Cities Funeral Services

415 Halifax Street

Petersburg, Virginia

Mag Chavis Obituary

Mag Dora Battle Chavis passed away on Jan. 26, 2009, at the age of 86 years old. She was a proud servant of the Lord, a matriarch whose love nurtured and cared for each member of her family, and a friend whose heart and home were always open.

Mrs. Chavis was born on Oct. 19, 1922, to the late Henry Battle and the late Sarah Pitt Battle in Enfield, N.C. She was the oldest of six children. Her only surviving sibling, Sadie B. Christian, was her closest friend and confidant. Her other siblings, who preceded her in death, were Tom Battle, Anna Graves, Mary Francis Battle and Beulah Diggs.

On Nov. 27, 1938, she married Lonnie Chavis Sr., and they had four children: Lonnie Chavis Jr., the late Joe Henry Chavis (deceased shortly after birth), Sadie Chavis Bragg and the late Maxine Chavis Jefferson.

Mr. and Mrs. Chavis moved to Petersburg, Va., in 1941, and Mrs. Chavis became an active member of the community. Most importantly, she was a loyal and dedicated member of the Metropolitan Baptist Church where she served as a deaconess, a member of the Missionary Ministry, the Senior Ladies' Usher Board, the Nurses' Unit, and the Senior Ladies' Sunday School Class. In 2004, she was recognized by the church as a "Pillar of Metropolitan Baptist Church." In addition to her service to the church, Mrs. Chavis was a member of the Electa Chapter No. 7, Order of Eastern Star, PHA and an employee of Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp. for 35 years.

Mrs. Chavis enjoyed cooking, gardening, canning and playing bingo.Above all, she loved to care for her family and her friends. She welcomed all into her home and especially loved to prepare her signature dishes for her family and friends.

She is survived by her dedicated son, Lonnie Chavis Jr.; devoted daughter, Sadie Chavis Bragg (Alvin Sr.); committed son-in-law, Thomas Jefferson Jr.; caring sister, Sadie B. Christian (Roland Sr.); four loving grandchildren, Lisa Chavis Gregory (Algie), Monica Chavis Goode, Gregory L. Jefferson Sr. (Jana) and Alvin L. Bragg Jr. (Jamila); five beloved great-grandchildren, Alisa Monique Gregory, Gregory L. Jefferson Jr., Noël Alexandra Jefferson, Evan Keane Jefferson and Maya Maxine Bragg; a daughter-in-law, Mamie Stith Hamilton; an aunt, Ethel Megginson; and an uncle, Aaron Battle; nieces and nephews, Mary Williams (Claude), Anna Colter, Deborah Winfield (Herbert), Roland Christian Jr., Rufus Graves Jr., Keith Barkley (Irma), Robert Diggs (Amanda) and Tony Diggs; three caretakers, Monica Goode, Shinika Shaw and Zina Woodson; and a host of family and friends too numerous to list individually, all of whom loved and cherished Mrs. Chavis.

A home-going service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at Metropolitan Baptist Church, 1021 Halifax St., Petersburg, Va. Arrangements are being provided by Tuckers Funeral Home, 415 Halifax St., Petersburg, Va. A.A. Tucker, funeral director.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Progress-Index from Jan. 27 to Jan. 30, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Mag Chavis

15 Entries

John Gallagher

February 2, 2009

I never had a chance to meet Ms. Chavis but from working with her daughter I know she must have been a woman with exceptional strength, decency and character. I grieve with the Chavis and Bragg families.

Sheila Holmes

February 2, 2009

I am thinking of you in these difficult times and keeping you in my prayers. May God grant you comfort and solace to guide you and your family through these trouble times.

Ena Jordan

February 2, 2009

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Josephine Phillips

January 31, 2009

Sorry to hear of the passing of your Mother. May God bless you and your family during this time of grief.

(Class of 1963)

Lillian Curley

January 30, 2009

Sadie and Alvin my prayers are with you and your family.

Lillian Curley

Battinto Batts

January 30, 2009

To Lonnie, Sadie, Thomas & the Entire Family:

With Deepest Sympathy in the Loss of Your Loved One.

Mrs. Chavis was very kind and caring and always exhibited a sincere concern for the Petersburg community.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Valencia Barkley-Skinner

January 30, 2009

To my family i love you dearly and though i truly will me miss Aunt Mag it does my heart good just to know she's resting peacefully with my father whom loved her dearly as well and always called her "Mama". Love you deeply and you have my deepest sympathy.

Lencie Boo

Fred & Jean Dillard

January 30, 2009

The loss of someone so close is difficult to bear. We share your grief.

January 29, 2009

Sadie & Family

Sorry to hear the loss of your mother. May God be with at this time. Our prayers are with you. Tell Alvin I said hello.

Carolyn Brown-Nichols
Class of 1963

Geoffrey Akst

January 28, 2009

My thoughts and concern today are with your family for their great loss.

Carolyn Thomas

January 28, 2009

May God continue to Bless each & everyone of you doing this time of sorrow....I am so very sorry for your loss....

Virginia Parham

January 28, 2009

Our prayers are with you

Deborah Winfield

January 27, 2009

To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."

It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man.

God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.

Ruth Ann Mahaffey (author)
©Copyright 1998-2009

Deborah Winfield

January 27, 2009

Family: May God continue to bless each and everyone of you at such a time as this. Always cherish the memories that you shared with her. I will miss my calls to her, just to said "hello". My prayers are with you all, and remember God has everything in controlled.

Your Cousin,
Deborah Winfield

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