Tracey Stephen Chavis

I’ve read many obituaries and no one can author your obituary better than you. I am a lifelong Connecticut resident. I was born in Norwalk Hospital, Norwalk, CT on July 11th. I am the offspring of the late Pearlie Chavis Jr (aka Bud) and Glory Chavis. I was raised in Roodner Court where young people learned about life and how to survive. My Christian indoctrination began at early age in Norwalk, CT at Grace Baptist Church under the guidance of the late Rev. John Purcell Ball, who was my God Father. After being away from church, a number of years we joined the First Baptist Church of Stratford under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. William O Johnson and the word preached was quite lively. There were sixteen assistant ministers at First Baptist during our time there. As Dr. W.O. Johnson’s health started to fail we felt the call of the Holy Spirit. We started learning more about the Apostolic Pentecostal Church. We attended and joined Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love under leadership of the late Bishop Kenneth H. Moales Sr. Bishop Moales gave me the freedom to agree and disagree and my arguments needed to be thoroughly backed up. I was blessed with an opportunity to attend the University of Connecticut UCONN for undergraduate and graduate degrees. I also was able to obtain a job at UCONN upon completion of my graduate degree. My life began to blossom during my time at UCONN. I spent 3 years as a dj on the college radio station. I reestablished a friendship with a young lady from home who later became my wife. We lived in Storrs, Connecticut, a rural remote area for eleven years and it was time for a change. I moved fast after leaving UCONN, securing positions with the desire of upward mobility. I started off in Massachusetts, worked at UMASS, Amherst, and Westfield State College, then to White Plains NY at Pace University, back to Connecticut closer to home, Sacred Heart University, Gateway Community College, St. Vincents College of Nursing and finally Housatonic Community College. During our time in Massachusetts, we married and started a family. We’re still married 40 plus years later. My wife and I established Chavis Photography focusing predominately on wedding photography. Our business was lucrative for a moment, we received many inquiries, but it started to become demanding along with our other full-time positions. We should’ve hired and trained some young people. I dabbled in politics for a moment working 10 years during elections, served as a Constable for one year which the position for me, finally 20 year as a Connecticut Justice of the Peace (JP). I’ve officiated 50 or more weddings as a JP. Two significant events took place as a JP one was to officiate our daughter’s wedding and the second was to officiate my late mother’s God Daughter’s wedding. Looking back there were just two of us trying to survive, then came a daughter which made it three, she got married making it four, and we are finally a family of seven. I thank BABA YAWHEY for making a way out of no way in my life, which has become our lives. I don’t know where we would be without YASHUA our Lord and Savior. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026 from 11:00AM - 12:00PM followed by a service of celebration at 12:00PM at First Baptist Church in Stratford., CT. Interment will be private.

Tributes

Tracey Stephen Chavis

July 11, 1952 - July 13, 2026