The Abbie Chavis Scholarship Fund was created in honor of my late grandmother, Abbie Chavis, who only reached a 4th grade education before committing her life to giving birth to and raising her 17 children along with her husband LG Chavis.

Born in the 1920s, the daughter of sharecroppers in the state of Louisiana, Mrs. Abbie dedicated her life to raising her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved everyone and would even feed strangers and homeless people when they were in need. She pushed her grandchildren, including me, to “get with the good people” and to pursue an education to better themselves and their children.

In her late years, she was a faithful member of The Full Gospel Holy Temple Church. One of my most fond memories of her is sitting on the back row of the church pews and watching her sing hymns and give her testimony of how the good Lord had saved a wretch like her. One of her favorite hymns she would sing had the words “Walk with me Lord, walk with me.” She was one of the strongest people I have ever encountered, and I’m forever grateful to be a part of her legacy.