Karan Chavis - Her Great Family By Richard Martin "They Are Family" It is a family of distinction.      Karan, the youngest sister,  Doneva, the oldest sister, brother  KZ Jr., mother, Dr. Geneva Chavis, and their now deceased father, Dr. Kanawha Zebulon (KZ) Chavis - The Chavis Family.      Her wonderful mother, Geneva, is a retired administrator of Nash Technical Institute, a motivational speaker, a member of University Boards, and a tireless champion of education and civil responsibility.      Her Father, Kanawha Zebulon Chavis,  was the President of the North Carolina Education Association, a founder of policy and education action groups from North Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia. He was also a patriot of the first order and inspired Karan to love American Music, Society, and Justice.      Unfortunately, Dr. Chavis was killed in a tragic accident in 1980. The North Carolina General Assembly honored him with a decree of great distinction for his ground breaking work.      Between the two of these great educators, was a great love and affection which produced children of talent and intellect: Doneva, formerly a newscaster in Durham, N.C. and now heading a firm in Nashville, N.C. which specializes in Tribal Literature and Culture, and brother KZ Jr., whose story is a miracle in itself, overcoming a tragic accident in early life, and surviving , finally becoming an entrepreneur.      It is a family of great vibrancy. And of talent. And of great faith. And intellect. And love of American Music - all kinds And, just plain fun.      It was this atmosphere of love and caring, ideas and music, love of children and life itself--and of happiness--in which Karan grew up.      Deep religious faith was a mainstay in the Chavis Family. Dedicated Catholics, the Chavis' practiced a non-pious but simple trust in the God of their lives.      This simple faith in Deity and Religion gave them a spirituality that was practical, sincere, loving, and forgiving. This spirituality was passed on to all their children, which made them gentle, compassionate, and lovingly humble...but also provided them confidence in themselves and their future.      So it is easy to see how Karan has kept her faith - faith that allowed her to make her journey of 1,000 miles...From North Carolina to Austin, Texas, and how she continues her journey for all the miles ahead.      It was the uniqueness of this American family, the Chavis Family, that produced the wonderful person and entertainer we know now as Karan Chavis.