Martha Rivera Chivas Program

Martha Rivera Chavis, de 53 años, nació el 3 de noviembre de 1963 a Ana Luisa Marte Rivera y Vertilio Rivera en Ramon Santana en la República Dominicana. Fue la devota esposa del Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., líder de los derechos civiles y Presidente de la Asociación Nacional de Editores de Periódicos (NNPA). Ella partió esta vida pacíficamente en su hogar en Montclair, New Jersey el jueves 6 de julio de 2017 a las 2:30 de la mañana.

Completó sus estudios en la Escuela Católica San Pedro Apostol de la República Dominicana y recibió su título en Civilización Francesa de la Universidad de la Sorbona en París, Francia en 1987.

Como primera dama de la NNPA y ex primera dama de la Asociación Nacional para el Avance de las Personas de Color (NAACP), fue una madre amorosa y fuerte defensora de la libertad, la justicia y la igualdad en los Estados Unidos, África y la República Dominicana República. Cuando la Dra. Chavis y Martha se conocieron, trabajaba como traductora francesa a portuguesa para el Embajador de la República de Angola ante las Naciones Unidas. Se casaron en septiembre de 1988. Un mes más tarde, Chavis visitó Angola. Después de su regreso, la pareja cuidó a 9 angoleños, incluidos seis niños con miembros faltantes como resultado de la guerra civil en Angola, en su casa de Montclair, Nueva Jersey. Martha dijo a Associated Press en 1993: “Cuando volvieron a África, volvieron con prótesis. Esa fue una experiencia maravillosa”. Afirmó que su esposo había sido” transformado “por su visita a Angola y se comprometió a ayudar a los angoleños y se volvió más” de mentalidad internacional “, una causa a la que se volvió tan comprometida.

Precediéndola en la muerte eran su madre y su padre.

Ella deja para llorar el amor de su vida, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis, Jr.; Hijos, Franklin Chavis, John Chavis, y Reginald Chavis del hogar; Benjamin F. Chavis, III, hijastro de Orlando, Florida; Tres hijas, Ana Elisabeth Chavis de la casa; Tres hijastras, Paula, Renita y Nickie, todas de Oxford, Carolina del Norte. Dos cuñadas, la Dra. Helen Chavis Othow y la Dra. LaRhoda Francine Chavis, ambas de Oxford; Sobrina Ajulo Othow Norman (Collis, Sr.) y sobrino, Collis Ramon Norman, Jr., y su sobrina Marva Elisabeth Davenport. Ella deja para llorar y atesorar su hermosa vida, sus hermanos, Miguel Vertilio Rivera, Rubén Darío Rivera y Rafael Antonio Rivera; Sus hermanas Ramona Altagracia Rivera, Altagracia Ramona Rivera, Divina Rivera, Beatriz Rivera, Luz del Alba Rivera, Rafaela Candida Rivera, Alba Luisa Rivera e Isabel Cristina Rivera; Y numerosos otros sobrinos y sobrinas incluyendo: Milagros Rodríguez, Ivette Rodríguez, Astin Jacobo, Ana Jacobo, Dra. Amarilis Jacobo, Astrid Jacobo, Ornan Villalona, ​​Ana Miguelina Rivera, Berta Michel Rivera, Katy Alejandría Lorenzo, Galicia Rivera, Fanny de la Cruz, Reinaldo de la Cruz, Miguel Vertilio Rivera, Corine Saltara, Katrina Saltara, Sergio Claudio Saltara, Anery Rivera, Andy Rivera, Raúl Chipot, Alicia Chipot, Crisbel Rivera y Rubén Darío Rivera; Otros parientes y amigos a los que amaba mucho, y Jackie Morel, un amigo largo y dedicado.

Mrs. Martha Rivera Chavis, 53, was born November 3, 1963 to Ana Luisa Marte Rivera and Vertilio Rivera in Ramon Santana in the Dominican Republic. She was the devoted wife of Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., civil rights leader and President of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). She departed this life peacefully in her home in Montclair, New Jersey on Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 2:30 a.m.

She completed her studies at San Pedro Apostol Catholic School in the Dominican Republic and received her degree in French Civilization from Sorbonne University in Paris, France in 1987.

As First Lady of the NNPA and the former First Lady of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), she was a loving mother and strong advocate for freedom, justice, and equality in the United States, Africa, and the Dominican Republic. When Dr. Chavis and Martha met, she was working as a French to Portuguese translator for the Republic of Angola’s Ambassador to the United Nations. They were married in September, 1988. One month later, Chavis visited Angola. After he returned, the couple cared for 9 Angolans including six children with missing limbs as a result of the civil war in Angola, in their home in Montclair, New Jersey. Martha told the Associated Press in 1993, “When they went back to Africa, they went back with prosthetics. That was a wonderful experience.” She stated that her husband had been “transformed” by his visit to Angola and made a commitment to help Angolans and became more “internationally-minded”, a cause to which she became just as committed.

Preceding her in death were her mother and father.

She leaves to mourn the love of her life, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis, Jr.; sons, Franklin Chavis, John Chavis, and Reginald Chavis of the home; Benjamin F. Chavis, III, stepson of Orlando, Florida; Three daughters, Ana Elisabeth Chavis of the home; three stepdaughters, Paula, Renita, and Nickie, all of Oxford, North Carolina. Two sisters-in-law, Dr. Helen Chavis Othow and Dr. LaRhoda Francine Chavis, both of Oxford; Niece Ajulo Othow Norman (Collis, Sr.) and nephew, Collis Ramon Norman, Jr., and niece Marva Elisabeth Davenport. She leaves to mourn and treasure her beautiful life, her brothers, Miguel Vertilio Rivera, Ruben Dario Rivera, and Rafael Antonio Rivera; her sisters, Ramona Altagracia Rivera, Altagracia Ramona Rivera, Divina Rivera, Beatriz Rivera, Luz del Alba Rivera, Rafaela Candida Rivera, Alba Luisa Rivera, and Isabel Cristina Rivera; and numerous other nieces and nephews including: Milagros Rodriguez, Ivette Rodriguez, Astin Jacobo, Ana Jacobo, Dr. Amarilis Jacobo, Astrid Jacobo, Ornan Villalona, , Ana Miguelina Rivera, Berta Michel Rivera, Katy Alexandria Lorenzo, Galicia Rivera, Fanny de la Cruz, Reinaldo de la Cruz, Miguel Vertilio Rivera, Corine Saltara, Katrine Saltara, Sergio Claudio Saltara, Anery Rivera, Andy Rivera, Raul Chipot, Alicia Chipot, Crisbel Rivera, and Ruben Dario Rivera; other relatives and friends that she loved dearly, and Jackie Morel, a long time and devoted friend.

Acknowledgements Perhaps you sent a lovely card, or sat quietly in a chair.

Perhaps you sent those beautiful flowers, that we saw sitting there.

Perhaps you spoke the kindest words, as any friend could say.

Perhaps you were not there at all, just thought of us that day.

Whatever you did to console our hearts we thank you so much for whatever part.

The Family of Martha Rivera Chavis

Interment will be: Cemetery Metropolis San Pedro de Marcoris, Dominican Republic

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