William F. Chavis

July 15, 1935 - March 5, 2018

Mr. William Fletcher Chavis was born on July 15, 1935 in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wake County. He was the third child of many children born to the late Edgar and Mary Henrietta Evans Chavis, Sr. He departed this life, after an extended illness, on Monday, March 5, 2018. He was surrounded by family and close friends in Winter Park, Florida. William accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior at an early age and became a member of Hickory Grove Christian Church where his Chavis family has history. While there, he stated proudly that he used to sing on the choir. He was educated in the public schools of Wake County and attended Mill Grove High School. William was reared on a large farm and learned to “raise and can all but flour”. He shared stories of picking cotton and growing up in a large family but taught himself construction work and developed skills as if he was a licensed contractor. He was an aide to and was a foreman on various construction sites. He worked at a saw mill for ten years and was one of the best “jack of all trades” who would fix anything from toys to trucks. William left North Carolina in 1958 and moved to Connecticut before relocating in 1963 to New Jersey. There, he was manager of a retail store formerly known as Johns Bargains Store and met Elaine Marsette who became his lifetime partner then wife. A man of many talents and abilities, William became a long-haul truck driver after leaving the retail industry. Always one to be on the radio giving the “411”, he developed and used “Buddy” as his trucking handle in communications. “Buddy” would haul and share so many things with family and friends that no one knew what he’d bring home next. There were so many good surprises for both the young and old. However, after twenty-seven years of dedicated service in the transportation industry, a severe back injury forced his retirement. When he left New Jersey, he moved to Georgia and eventually Florida where he worked in many capacities to include being an apartment complex manager in both states. “Pa”, as he was affectionately known by his children, grandchildren and closest friends, was a very social and all-around person who enjoyed talking, laughing, fishing, playing music, having gatherings and sometimes to a fault, taking care of others and their needs. Pa was laid back and was not a man of quick discipline but would “check you” when he had to. Pa had a passion for cooking and was the best cook of soul food. Even illness didn’t keep him from preparing a meal or wanting to be social and outdoors. Pa loved The Blues and oldies but goodies music and would party on it for days. With out fail, he had to have his Pepsi with peanuts, cigarettes and sweets. William was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Marsette Chavis; a son and daughter, William Leon and Margarita Chavis; his parents and six brothers, Francis Kithcart and Clarence “Snow”, Bobby “Dooty”, Lynburg, Earnest “Penny” and Edgar Chavis, Jr. Left to cherish precious memories are: a daughter, Brenda “Jeanie” (John) Nance; her mother, Dorothy Chavis; and a granddaughter, reared as a daughter, Ashley Chavis; three sons, Douglas, Frank and Anthony C. (Anita) Chavis, Sr.; two grandsons, reared as sons, Anthony “Ty” C. Chavis, Jr. and William Sterling Hunter Chavis; sisters, Gladys Harris, Linda Hardy and Vera Mae Saulters; brothers, William Henry “Pete”, James “Fat” and Edward “Hucker” (Wanda) Chavis; two-sisters-in-law; sixteen other grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, daughters and sons-in-loves, other loving extended family and friends who knows their “Thrill Is Gone”.