03/09/2026
Hillsborough
Kenneth Edgar Chavious was born March 2, 1935 to the late John and Iris Chavious of Vauxhall, NJ. He departed this life, Sunday, March 1, 2026, one day before his 91st birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings, Muriel C. Reed (sister), and John Milton Chavious (brother).
He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 41 years, Barbara Ott Chavious; his son Michael Todd Chavious of Hillsborough; daughter Vernee Jennings (Ron) of GA;
nephew, Jeffrey Reed (Maria) of NJ; great-nephew, Jeffrey Reed Jr. of NJ, sister-in-law, Grace M. Chavious of Hillsborough; loving cousins, Alexa Chavious-Jennings, Michael Jennings, Janice Chavious, Latitia Chavious Bradsher, Roosevelt (Ronnie) Warner III; along with his in-laws and the Ott family; and a host of other
very special cousins, relatives and many friends.
Ken attended Shaw University in Raleigh and served his country as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, at Ft. Bragg, NC. Upon return from active duty, he played semi-pro football for the Jersey City Vikings and later became the athletic director at the YMCA in Morristown, NJ.
He moved to Hillsborough in 1975, and held positions in social/human services in Orange County, including social worker with the Chapel Hill Police Department’s Crisis Intervention unit and as a Magistrate for Orange County.
For 30 years, Ken served his community on numerous boards and committees, including commissioner and mayor pro-tem on the Town of Hillsborough’s Board of Commissioners.
He was industrious, energetic, goal-oriented, and usually had more than one “job” and multiple projects going at the same time; as well as the optimism and stamina to successfully complete them.
Ken “never met a stranger” and made friends, wherever he went. He genuinely liked people...and sharing conversations (and his BIG laugh!) with everyone he encountered.
He loved his family, unequivocally; and his friends, and having “work to do” in his flower beds, and whistling back to the birdies’ calls, while he did.
Public viewing-Friday, March 13, 2026 from 10:00AM until 5:00PM in Chavis-Parker Funeral Home.
Service-Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 2:00PM in Chavis-Parker Funeral Home. Visitation one hour before service in the funeral home. Burial in Mt. Bright Memorial Garden.
Memorial Celebration of Life
Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 2:00PM-4:00PM in the
Orange High School Auditorium, Hillsborough, NC
