Uncle Mark serving as patriarch at our wedding on 05/11/2024

Uncle Mark serving as patriarch at our wedding rehearsal dinner on 05/10/2024

Beautiful service...thank you Uncle Mark for being a wonderful patriarch to our family. 💗

Uncle  Mark is on the far left, front row. This photo was taken at one of the family reunions. Uncle Mark Jr.  & Mark Chapman,Sr. are on the front row with his mother, Beloney beside Mark Sr.  & Mary, his sister on the far right of the front row.
Second row are siblings, Rachel, R Deborah, Dorcas, Martha, Joseph, Sara and James.

While on vacation in Florida, Uncle Mark met my husband and 3 sons for dinner. We had a great time with Uncle Mark. He is my  mother Mary’s  older brother.  Uncle Mark had a busy day planned, but he took time out of his busy schedule to have dinner with us.

In loving memory of a wonderful uncle. Ninety-one years of life is a magnificent journey, and you traveled it with such purpose—as a proud Navy veteran, a talented author, a wonderful pillar of our family and much more. Looking back, my childhood summers visiting Grandmama and Granddad are forever brightened by the memories of you and your family coming to Kinston for our reunions. You brought so much joy and connection to those gatherings. The love and lessons you left behind will guide our family for generations. Rest in beautiful peace, Uncle Mark.

My sincere condolences to the Chapman family of which i am a part....at the age of 11 i had the distinct privilege of living with my brother-in law as my sister brother at Bonneville apartments Portsmouth Va.....attending Clarkson middle school for a school year. One of the highlights of my visit was going to the Chapmans farm in Kingston N.C. that summer of which i so vividly remember because it was the highlight of my brief stay, the farm itself was a classroom, equipping me with knowledge that lasted to this day of a 74year old. Myself and Phillip "Marks Brother" who is no longer with us had the freedom to roam, learn and observe domesticated and wildlife animals but for me it was Mrs. Chapman "Marks Mother " cooking three complete meals a-day with homemade biscuits at every meal of which i can still taste after so many years, yep they were just that damn good. My experience with harvesting and curing tobacco is still with me ,and ive carried that farming knowledge with me to this day...in our later years we've climbed many mountains/challenges as men of distinction and we reached he mountain tops with success......i will indeed miss my brother-in law   and our many positive conversations rest in eternal peace Mark Chapman Jr.

My Dad, Booker T.  Wiggins,Sr., Uncle James P. Chapman, Sr., Uncle Mark Chapman,Jr., Grandddaddy Mark Chapman, Sr. , and my Mom Mary Elizabeth Chapman Wiggins at a family reunion in the early 2000s

Uncle Mark meeting my daughter, Claudia, and me for breakfast at our hotel during her college tours circa 2015

It was always exciting when Uncle Mark and his family came to our family reunions. Because I lived in our family’s hometown, Kinston , NC, those gatherings gave me the opportunity to see relatives from far and wide and learn about the interesting places where their lives had taken them.

One of my core memories is a week-long family road trip along the East Coast, visiting relatives in New Jersey and New York and stopping in Norfolk, where Uncle Mark was stationed. Years later, when I participated in an oratorical contest in Florida, my mother had the opportunity to spend time with him. And when my daughter and I were in Florida for her college tour, it meant so much that he came to meet us for breakfast.

I was especially honored when Uncle Mark asked me to serve on the family reunion committee. I deeply appreciated his confidence in me and the opportunity to serve our family.

Uncle Mark was proud of his children and grandchildren, and proud to be a Chapman, a descendant of Mark and Belony Chapman, Joseph and Lettice Chapman, and all those who came before us. His love for our family and commitment to keeping us connected will always be remembered. He will be deeply missed, and his memory will forever be loved and cherished.

Our brother Mark left home from the Kinston, Lenoir County area for his Navy career when I was only two or three years old. It was always exciting to know we had a brother in the armed forces, and we looked forward to his letters to Mom and Dad, as well as his occasional visits home. I was  thrilled to meet his lovely wife, Mildred, a few years later, and eventually the children as they arrived. Mark was always so warm and friendly, making it impossible not to be drawn to him. I also greatly appreciated his calm leadership while working with the Family Reunion committee for many years, assisting in every way possible.

Some of my fondest memories of Mark are when he and the family came to visit with a van full of children, and Mildred would say something like, "Mark, help me with these kids." Mark Chapman Jr., was  are a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and brother, not only to us but to many. His commitment to a strong work ethic and the way he challenged his children to succeed in life has been a joy to observe. His accomplishments are many, including retiring from the U. S. Navy, earning a Doctorate of Psychology and using it as a professional counselor, authoring several books, and serving as a Minister of the Gospel.

I love you, and salute you, Mark, for the bountiful blessings  and accomplishments you have enjoyed in this life, and for the wonderful impact you have made on our lives and the lives of others.  

With Love, Your sister,  Deborah

It's not Goodbye. It's untill we  meet again. Thank you for all the wise advice. You have a great legacy and we will make you proud. I"ll cherish the memories.

Our brother Mark left home from the Kinston, Lenoir County area for his Navy career when I was only two or three years old. It was always exciting to know we had a brother in the armed forces, and we looked forward to his letters to Mom and Dad, as well as his occasional visits home. We were thrilled to meet his lovely wife, Mildred, a few years later, and eventually the children as they arrived. Mark was always so warm and friendly, making it impossible not to be drawn to him. We also greatly appreciated his calm leadership while working with the Family Reunion committee for many years, assisting in every way possible.

Some of my fondest memories are of when Mark and the was when the family came to visit with a van full of children, and Mildred would say something like, "Mark, help me with these kids." Mark Chapman Jr., was  are a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and brother, not only to us but to many. His commitment to a strong work ethic and the way he challenged his children to succeed in life has been a joy to observe. His accomplishments are many, including retiring from the Navy, earning a Doctorate of Psychology, authoring several books, and serving as a minister of the Gospel.

We salute you, Mark, for the bountiful blessings you have enjoyed in this life and for the wonderful impact you have made on our lives and the lives of others.

Your sister,  
R. Deborah Williams

I was deeply saddened to hear of Uncle Mark’s passing. Over the last few years, I was blessed with the opportunity to truly get to know him, and as the saying goes, to know him was to love him.

Uncle Mark always had a great story to share, a meaningful perspective on life, and a way of making you stop and think. I will forever cherish the conversations we shared and the wisdom and laughter he brought into my life.

Although my heart is heavy with his passing, I find comfort in knowing that his journey here on Earth has come to an end, and he is now resting peacefully in God’s loving arms.

You will be deeply missed, Uncle Mark, but your stories, your wisdom, and the love you shared will live on in all of us who were blessed to know you.

Rest peacefully. Until we meet again. ❤️🙏🏽

OBITUARY

Mark Chapman Jr.

August 7, 1935 – August 23, 2026

Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home

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