During Black History Month, Dr. Doneva Chavis has emerged as a trailblazer in education, equity and representation. She is the longest-serving member of the Nash Board of Education and has built a legacy of breaking barriers and opening doors for future generations.
Her story began during the early days of school integration, when Southern Nash and Northern Nash high schools were under construction. Chavis was among the pioneering students who enrolled in predominantly white schools during the final years of the freedom-of-choice period, as federal courts began enforcing full desegregation.
"A group of us, mostly children of educators, decided to break the ice and enroll in white schools, knowing that integration would be mandatory next year," she said. "We wanted to show we were just like everyone else."
At Northern Nash High School, she soon learned about the Miss Rocky Mount Pageant, held in October 1971. When she mentioned the event to her parents, they were not surprised—she had always been a bit of a renegade. Her father asked if she was interested in competing, and she agreed without hesitation.
Viewing the pageant as an opportunity to open doors for others, Chavis found the process fascinating—especially the rehearsals. She became the first girl of color to compete. At her first meeting with the other contestants, everyone was friendly yet visibly surprised. Identifying as African American, Native American and European American, her complexion was darker than that of previous contestants. Sponsored by the Rocky Mount Jaycees, many aspects of the competition—including wardrobe—were predetermined. The swimsuit segment featured a conservative suit for all contestants.
Makeup, however, proved challenging. Organizers initially struggled to select a suitable shade for Chavis and eventually chose one that was too dark.
"Merle Norman, who had a store at Tarrytown Mall, was in charge of makeup, but they weren’t sure what to use for me," she said. "The color they picked was completely off."
Fortunately, her boss at Channel 9 in Greenville stepped in.
"She had a talk show I worked on during weekends, and she did my makeup and hair for the pageant," Chavis recalled.
The hairstyling also drew attention.
"Some of the other contestants had never seen a hot comb or curling irons used the way they were for my hair," she said. "They watched in amazement. One girl even said, 'I just lay my hair on my ironing board to straighten my hair.' I laughed and told her to think of the hot comb as a miniature ironing board—it worked the same way."
These small but powerful moments illustrated how people were experiencing shared events for the first time—learning about one another’s cultures in entirely new ways.
Although she did not expect to win, Chavis recognized that her participation was about more than competition—it was about representation. That realization propelled her to pursue other opportunities. She was later sponsored by the Rocky Mount Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) to compete in the first Miss Black North Carolina Pageant.
June 9, 1972, The Rocky Mount Telegram highlighted the achievements of Chavis, who was crowned Miss Black North Carolina. The article, titled "Rocky Mount Girl Named Miss Black North Carolina," emphasized the role of the Rocky Mount Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) in encouraging opportunities for young Black women.
“One of the objectives of the Rocky Mount OIC is to motivate Black girls to participate in events that will allow them to display their talents successfully,” Willie Powell Jr., the organization's executive director, told The Nashville Graphic. “OIC has more than met its objectives in Miss Doneva Chavis.”
Chavis’ win celebrated her personal achievements and reflected the center’s mission of empowerment within the community. In 1972, she became the first Miss Black North Carolina. Rocky Mount Mayor Fred Turnage, confident in her victory, traveled to the event and sat in the front row. When her name was announced, he eagerly took to the backstage to snap photos, proudly claiming her as a Rocky Mount representative despite her county representation in the pageant.
The Rocky Mount OIC staff, including Robert Powell and Marilyn Wright, provided support. Wright, Katherine Lucas, an English teacher at Northern Nash, and Martha Hux, a drama teacher at Northern Nash, played key roles in refining her stage presence and preparing her for the question-and-answer portion of the competition
Although Chavis was not interested in modeling, she had a passion for singing. One of the pageant awards was a recording contract, but her parents insisted she attend college instead of pursuing music full time.
"You're going to college, not running around in a recording studio," they told her.
Winning the Miss Black North Carolina title opened unexpected doors. One memorable opportunity was a visit to Muscle Shoals Studio in Alabama, arranged by Charles O. Johnson, manager of Soul 92 radio station. There, she witnessed Santana recording an album and experienced the surreal feeling of walking into the same studio where Aretha Franklin had recorded—an experience that further solidified her passion for media and entertainment.
That exposure led to television opportunities, including work at UNC-TV with Evan-Redd Productions, which produced documentaries on North Carolina’s pre-slavery and slavery-era history. The experience proved both educational and eye-opening, reinforcing her interest in media.
When it came time to choose a college major at North Carolina Central University, Chavis pursued television art and visual communications. In her senior year, WTVD Channel 11 offered her a job. Although her parents were upset that she would leave school one semester before graduating, she recognized the rarity of the opportunity and accepted the offer. She worked at Channel 11 for six years, a period that led to further positions in television and radio across eastern North Carolina.
Forty-one years later, Chavis fulfilled a promise to her parents by returning to North Carolina Central University to complete her undergraduate degree as an NCCU Eagle. She later earned a master of arts in organizational leadership with a concentration in higher education and pursued a doctoral degree in education at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Chavis now serves as cultural arts director at Edgecombe Community College. In addition to her career in education, she has dedicated 24 years to public service as a member of the Nash County Board of Education, first elected in 2001.
Looking back, that night at the Rocky Mount Senior High School auditorium was more than a personal milestone—it was a defining moment. From breaking barriers as a young girl to becoming a respected leader in education, the arts and media, her journey embodies perseverance, courage and the power of representation. Today, as a member of the Nash Board of Education, Chavis continues to champion students and work to ensure that opportunities are accessible to all.
Her impact is one of strength, resilience and commitment—a story that inspires not only during Black History Month but every day.
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Heather Louise Finch, Public Information Officer