Dr. John M.T. Chavis Sr.

CHAVIS Dr. John M.T. Chavis Sr., of Jefferson City, Mo., died Friday, November 9, 2007, at Jefferson City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born August 7, 1923, at Toledo, Ohio, the son of Patrick Estolia and Susan Terrell Townsley Chavis Sr. He was married December 22, 1950, at Detroit, Michigan, to Edna Lavenia DeBro, who survives of the home. Dr. Chavis was educated in the public schools system in his home of Toledo, Ohio. After graduating from high school, Dr. Chavis attended the University of Toledo where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Philosophy. He proudly served his country for five years in the United States Army where he graduated from the Engineer School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He also served as Administrative Officer of the Engineer Dump Truck Company in Furth, Germany. John's educational journey continued on to the University of Chicago, where he earned a Master's in Philosophy, and to the University of Detroit where he received a Master's in History. Then from Michigan State University, he earned his PhD in History. Dr. Chavis holds a long and honorable record of accomplishments in education. He served as Curator of Urban History and Director of Education at the Detroit Historical Museum in Detroit, Michigan for 10 years. Many staff members, museum visitors, school groups, community groups and media audiences were privileged to experience his frequent lectures in the area of urban history. His professionalism and expertise were then extended to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he served as the Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. During his tenure at the University of Michigan, Dr. Chavis divided his time and talents in order to also work as lecturer of U.S. history, Associate in Research in the Michigan Historical Collections and Assistant to the Dean at the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Dr. Chavis also found time to contribute his professional insight to groups such as the Governor's Task Force on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education in Michigan. He also served as a speaker at several seminars, workshops, and conferences at various universities such as Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. In 1971, Dr. Chavis was appointed by Governor William G. Milliken to serve as Commissioner on the Michigan Historical Commission for the state of Michigan. Dr. Chavis, on loan from the University of Michigan, also served as a visiting professor at Tuskegee Institute from 1971 to 1974. During his time at Tuskegee, Dr. Chavis was involved in several activities. One of which was presenting testimony before the Sub-Committees National Parks and Recreation Senate and House Interior Insular Affairs Committees in behalf of the Tuskegee Institute National Historical Park Proposal in Washington, D.C. In 1974, Dr. Chavis joined the Lincoln University family. For the next 20-plus years, he served Lincoln University faithfully. His many titles included Vice President, Interim President (twice), Professor of History, Dean, and Coordinator of Institutional Affairs. Among the plethora of activities in which he participated, Dr. Chavis served as a member of the Corrections Task Force for the Department of Public Safety, the Governor's Advisory Council on Governmental and Community Service Programs of the state of Missouri, the Missouri Committee for the Humanities, the Executive Board of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, North Central Association and the Board of Governors of Memorial Community Hospital in Jefferson City. Dr. Chavis was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Beta Zeta Lambda Chapter and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Theta Boule, Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas City, Kansas. He also had held memberships in Rotary International, Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). Survivors include his beautiful wife, Edna L. Chavis, PhD, of the home; his two wonderful sons, Dion Chavis, M.D. and his wife Patricia Kay of Indianapolis, Indiana, and John Chavis II, JD and his wife Lisa Marie of Indianapolis, Indiana; and six grandchildren, Jordan Chavis, Kyle Chavis, Bianca Chavis, John Chavis III, Alise Chavis, and Ariana Chavis. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Judge Patrick Estolia Chavis Jr. (Indianapolis, Indiana), and Dr. William Muse Chavis, M.D. (Detroit, Michigan). Funeral services will be held Friday, November 16, 2007, at 12 noon at the Buescher Memorial Home, 429 E. Capitol Avenue, with Dr. Arnold Parks officiating. Entombment will be in the Mausoleum at Riverview Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Buescher Memorial Home on Friday from 11 a.m. - 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that all contributions be made "in memory of Dr. John M.T. Chavis Sr." to: Lincoln University Veterans Memorial Fund, 820 Chestnut Street, Room 301 YH, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Arrangements are under the direction of the Buescher Memorial Home.