Rachel Ruth Messick Chapman, of Mars Hill, died on November 27, 2017 at Mars Hill Retirement Community. She spent her entire career, from 1946 until 1991, as a member of the business faculty at Mars Hill College, which named her Professor emerita following her retirement. She was a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church, in which she served many roles.
Rachel was born on January 12, 1926, in Yadkin County, North Carolina, to William Clarence and Lillian Bertys Long Messick. She was graduated from Yadkinville High School and earned the A.A. degree from Mars Hill College, and B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro). At its first commencement as a university in 2013, Mars Hill named her Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional honor society for women educators, for more than 58 years.
Rachel was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Robert Roscoe Chapman, Jr., and her sister, Elizabeth Arlena Messick Firesheets. She is survived by daughters, Susan Rachel Chapman Richardson (Paul) of Birmingham, Alabama, and Melanie Ruth Chapman Vinten-Johansen (Jakob) of Clemmons, North Carolina; and grandchildren Robert James Richardson (Elaina) of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Rachel Carolyn Richardson of Altamonte Springs, Florida.
Those wishing to honor Rachel’s memory are encouraged to consider support of the Chapman Garden at Mars Hill University (www.mhu.edu) or the scholarship fund of the Gamma Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (c/o Patty Higgins, President, Gamma Chapter, PO Box 1285, Weaverville, NC 28787)
A memorial service will take place at Mars Hill Baptist Church at 11:00 am on Friday, December 1, 2017. Visitation will follow in the fellowship hall of the church. Information is available at Blue Ridge Funeral Service: www.blueridgefuneralservice.org, 828-680-9963.