Claudia Dell Chavis

June 18, 1932 - December 18, 2018

Claudia Dell Chavis (nee Finger) Place of birth: Montclair, NJ Teacher – Librarian – Actress (stage, screen and tv) – Director – Playwright – Poet – Artist – Mother - Friend It is with great sorrow we announce, Claudia Dell Chavis (nee Finger), of Buckeye, Arizona (previously Montclair, New Jersey) passed away on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at Abrazo Hospital in Goodyear, Arizona. Mrs. Claudia F. Chavis was born on June 18, 1932 to Claudius Finger and Mary Belle Bolden of Montclair, New Jersey. A longtime resident of Montclair, Claudia graduated from Montclair High School (1951), attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia (B.A. 1955), Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia (M.S.L.S 1957), Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut (M.F.A. 1960) as well as received Certificates from New York University, New York, New York in Radio, TV and Drama (1963) and Pine Manor Junior College in Boston, Massachusetts (1973-1975). In 1957, she performed alongside Fess Parker in the Walt Disney Production of “The Great Locomotive Chase”, which premiered at the Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, New Jersey. During her career she taught Speech & Theater, General Humanities as well as directed drama groups at Bennett College (Little Theatre), Virginia State College (Theatre Guild), Bethune-Cookman College (Tra-Co-Dram), Montclair State College (B.S.C.U. Drama Workshop) and Seton Hall University; Union Baptist Church Youth Drama Group and Actors Guild in Montclair, New Jersey and VOICES, Inc. performance at Carnegie Hall, New York, New York. She also worked with the North Carolina A&T E. Gwynn Dancers as Lighting Director and Performer from 1986-1989. She later retired as a librarian for the Bayonne Board of Education. She enjoyed the Arts, music, reading, writing, murder mysteries and crocheting. Claudia was predeceased by her father Claudius Finger, mother Mary Belle Bolden, brother Charles Finger, uncle Dr. Theodore E. Bolden, grandmother Mary E. Jackson and husband Horace C. Chavis. She leaves behind her daughter Kama Chavis and a host of family, friends, loved ones and ‘Angels. Survivors and loved ones include: • Daughter: Kama Chavis • Cousins: Cathy Stephenson-Smith, Cheryl Stephenson-Jackson, Carol Stephenson, Nicky Stephenson and their families • Angels: the Milton Family, Susan ‘Wink’ Winkler, Andrea Bernier and Carol. A Celebration of Claudia's Life will be held on 2:00-4:00 pm on Saturday, June 22nd, 2019 at Wally Choice Community Center, located at 45 Maple Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042. The family requests in lieu of flowers a memorial contribution be sent to the Spelman College Theater and Performing Arts Department (Atlanta, Georgia) and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (Newark, New Jersey) in Claudia F. Chavis’ name. ***************************************