On November 20, 2023, at around 4:24 AM, the world bid farewell to a woman of extraordinary beauty, grace, and unwavering strength. Her name was Chanda Walton, and her memory would forever be etched in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her.
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Chanda was the embodiment of a devoted wife, a loving mother, a cherished aunt, a beloved niece, and a cherished daughter. Her presence radiated warmth and light, touching the lives of all who crossed her path. Her smile had the power to thaw the coldest of hearts, and her mellifluous voice seemed to echo from the heavens themselves. While some speak of character, Chanda embodied it, breathing life into the principles she held dear.
Long before her illness and eventual passing, she had become an icon within our family. In fact, during the early days of our relationship, my son Matthew and I affectionately dubbed her "Grace," as she seemed like an angel sent by God to bring joy and hope to our challenging circumstances. Born on August 24, 1967,
in Radford, Virginia, Chanda Terese Moseley was the precious child of Carol Armstrong Moseley and Elmo Theodore Moseley. Chanda's aunts and cousins often reminisced about her mischievous yet joyful toddler years. However, her life took a challenging turn early on when her mother, Carol Ann, passed away just eighteen months after Chanda's birth. During this trying time, the Moseley family rallied together to support Elmo in raising his beloved daughter. Fortunately, Mr. Moseley found love and partnership again with Mary Moseley, who stepped into the role of a mother for Chanda.
Chanda's values were deeply rooted in the love and guidance of her father, her new mother, and her extended family in Radford, Roanoke, and the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. But it was her grandmother, Rosetta Moseley, affectionately known as "Mother," who had a profound influence on how Chanda defined herself as a Christian woman. Mother's wisdom and influence extended far and wide, and whenever Chanda and I found ourselves rushing through life's tough decisions, we would remind each other of one of Mother's timeless sayings: "Go slow, so you could go some mo'."
"Chanda was the embodiment of a devoted wife, a loving mother, a cherished aunt, a beloved niece, and a cherished daughter."
After graduating as the salutatorian of her high school, Chanda embarked on her higher education journey. She initially attended the University of Virginia (UVA) but later transferred to Norfolk State University, where she would earn her Bachelor's degree. It was at Norfolk State that she joined the Delta Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, a community where Chanda's vocal talents, intellectual brilliance, and stunning beauty shone brightly. Her achievements culminated in her being awarded the First Runner-up title in the Miss Norfolk State University contest.
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Chanda's educational pursuits did not end there. She went on to earn her Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences from the Meharry Medical College. During this period, her steadfast village of friends and sorority sisters evolved even further. This close-knit group included individuals like Dawn Griffin, Gail Martin, Sonia Ellisor Johnson, Tamala Moore, and Eric Floyd, all of whom played pivotal roles in her battle with cancer.
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After leaving the Nashville area, Dr. Eric Floyd introduced Chanda to the world of BioPharma, where Chanda embarked upon a twenty-year career in Regulatory Affairs. Her final role was working for Amgen as a regulatory affairs executive. It was there that Dr. Floyd and Dr. Kiernan Seth set up a love connection with Dr. Eric Wynstin Walton. On August 20, 2004, Chanda and Eric were married.
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Eric and Chanda lovingly raised Matthew Malik Walton, and together, they welcomed Maya Chandler Ann Walton and Maxwell Theodore Wynstin Walton into the world. Maya pursued a pre-medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania, while Maxwell excelled in both mathematics and basketball, on his way to entering high school in 2024. Matthew found his calling as a creative director for Jaden Smith in Los Angeles, California.
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Over the years, the family embarked on adventures across the globe, visiting places like Paris, Rome, and Italy. However, Chanda's favorite destination was Martha's Vineyard. Introduced to us by Carrington Carter and Calvin Butts, Chanda ensured that we visited the Vineyard every Christmas season. Remarkably, she even planned our June 2023 vacation from her hospital bed, and by the grace of God, we were able to make the trip.
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This past year was undeniably challenging, but by God's grace, Chanda witnessed her baby girl's high school graduation, saw Maxwell thrive in school, celebrated every family birthday, personally accompanied Maya to college, and marked another anniversary with Eric. Though we yearn for more time with her, we are profoundly grateful for the time we did have. We boldly declare that Chanda Walton has not left us on this earthly plane, for we all carry a piece of her high standards and indomitable spirit, now and forevermore.
Our family would like to express our deep appreciation for the remarkable efforts of friends and family who supported us in extraordinary and selfless ways. These individuals rolled up their sleeves to cook, clean, watch the kids, care for Chanda, prayed with us daily, flew in for surgeries, and made a host of heroic efforts.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to:
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George and Pietra Foster
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Audrey Moseley
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Rosetta Faltz
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Retona Howell
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Samarah Foster
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Dawn Griffin
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Gail Martin
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Sonia Johnson
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Obi Arungwa
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​​Jovon Rossman
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Coach Ron Taylor
Without your help, we would have never made it through. You all are truly God's angels.
Special Recognition