Rachel Chapman

1940 - 2021

Rachel Chapman

July 19, 1940 - January 1, 2021

Rachel Chapman gained her heavenly wings and went home to be with Jesus on January 1, 2021, at Martha Jefferson Hospital, after a courageous battle with Covid-19.

She was born on July 19, 1940, to the late Homer and Ruby Thompson. Rachel had a gentle and caring spirit with a heart of gold. She loved Jesus and displayed that love by extending compassion and kindness to everyone she met. Rachel was a faithful life-long member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville Virginia.

After graduating from Jackson P. Burley High School in 1958, Rachel attended the University of Virginia School of Nursing where she became a Licensed Practical Nurse. For more than forty years, she lovingly cared for mothers and babies while serving as an LPN on the maternity and labor and delivery unit at the University of Virginia hospital. Today, many of her past patients fondly recall how attentive and wonderful she was to them during their stay in the hospital.

As a 1959, graduate of the University of Virginia's School of Nursing, Rachel was part of history in the making. In 2019, the University of Virginia Black nursing classes of the 1950s and 1960s received long-overdue recognition for their historical accomplishments and contributions to the University of Virginia and community. The nurses were bestowed the honored title "Hidden Nurses" and became official alumni of the University of Virginia, along with receiving lifetime memberships to the University of Virginia Alumni Association.

Rachel's kind heart and generous spirit reached far past her nursing obligations. She loved her family and friends and would deny them nothing. If someone was in need, she offered a helping hand. Rachel's grandchild and great-grandchildren meant everything to her, and she had a special relationship with each of them. Her greatest joy was being surrounded by and spending time with them all. She looked forward to JaQuavion's hugs; She and Brooklyn were two peas in a pod; She enjoyed reading her kindle while James stretched across her bed playing video games; She cherished her hugs from Jordyn, Nia and Belle; She saw something very special in King, and looked forward to her nightly calls from Jayla, Zuri, and Leia.

In addition to her parents, Rachel was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-three years, James Chapman. What a glorious reunion it must have been when she reunited with her parents, husband, and special friends, Chris Krohn, Joan Kent, and Ada Monroe.

Rachel leaves to cherish her memory and mourn her loss two children, Carmelita Gaines and husband, Earnest, of Charlottesville, Va., and Paul Brassfield and wife, Carolyn, of Felton Del.; three sisters, Shirley Thompson and Patricia White, of Charlottesville, Va., and Linda Ayers and husband, Floyd, of Charlottesville, Va.; two sisters-in-law, Bernice Mitchell and Alberta Mahanes, of Keswick, Va.; four grandchildren, Jeffrey White and Erica Gaines of Charlottesville, Va., Tiffany Williams and husband, Jamaal, of Marietta Ga., and Earnest Gaines III of Hartford, Conn.; 11 great-grandchildren, JaQuavion, James, Brooklyn, Jayla, Jordyn, King, Bellamy, Zuri, Nia, Leia, and Khali; two goddaughters, Lisa Chapman of Keswick, Va., and Patrice White of Charlottesville Va.; a very special nephew, Keith Douglas of South Boston, Va.; a very special friend, Barbara C. Fleming of Charlottesville, Va.; many loving nieces and nephews, cousins, and a host of friends. Rachel's passing has left an irreplaceable void in our hearts. However, we know "to be absent from the body is present with The Lord". Rachel is resting with The Lord.

A graveside service will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, January 9, 2021, at Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, Keswick, Va.

Walk-through viewing will be held from 3 until 6 p.m. on Friday, January 8, 2021, at the J. F. Bell Funeral Home Chapel.

J. F. Bell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guestbook at www.jfbellfuneralservices.com.

J F Bell Funeral Home Inc.

108 6th St. N.W., Charlottesville, Va.