Dr. James Evans Chatman

Dr. James Evans Chatman, 73, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 2, 1950  to his late parents, George Evans Chatman and Jemima Jenkins Chatman. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Juanita Chatman and Jacqueline Perry.

James Evans, as he was affectionally called, accepted Christ as his personal savior when he was young. He first joined Trinity AME Church and  spent most of his adult life attending Greater Bethel AME Church.

James Evans attended Haynes public school in Nashville and was in the first desegregated class to graduate from Maplewood High School. After graduating in 1968, he went to Fisk University and earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1972, and Master’s degree in clinical psychology in 1974.  He became the first black student from the Fisk-Meharry Clinical Psychology Program at Fisk University to attend Vanderbilt University in the Department of Psychology. In 1979, he received the Ph. D in Physiology Psychology from Vanderbilt University. He began his teaching career at Meharry Medical College in the Department of Nursing Education. After five years at Meharry, James Evans became a member of the faculty  in the Department of Psychology at Tennessee State University. He loved teaching and preparing students to do research. In 2013, he retired as a tenured professor after 30 years of service to Tennessee State University.

 James Evans had a quiet, conservative, and serious nature. He was a devoted husband and dedicated father. He loved his family, and they loved him. James loved the outdoors. During his early years, he spent almost every weekend hunting with his cousin, Clark Dixon. He also loved fishing and bowling. He was also quite a bowler who won several trophies in the Greater Bethel Bowling League.

 He leaves his loving memories to be cherished by his wife of 49 years, Dr. Vera Stevens Chatman; two daughters, Joi Chatman of Brentwood, TN and,  Dr. Jamie (Thomas) Baham of Mandeville, LA; a brother, Jerry (Bobbie) Chatman of Tampa, Florida; sister, Joyce Ann (Donald) Jones of Nashville; brother-in-law, Marvan (Bertha) Pettiford Charlotte, NC;   sister-in-law, Patricia (Bradley) Ware of Alexandria, Virginia; six grandchildren; Thomas III,  Isaiah, Trinity, Jeremiah, and Mia Baham;  nieces, Regina (James) Smith, Kimberly Allen, Eboni Funderburk, Michelle Pettiford, Tiffany Perry, Janail (Joel) Silver, Jennifer (Darian) McCullock, Jessica (Kawai) Butler nephews; Reginald Jones; loyal cousins – Theresa Shelton and Billie Dixon Irving and Delois Dorsey-Moore of Snow Hill, NC;  God children, Jamilla (Albert) Collins And Harold (Jamese) Lercius and  host of other relatives and friends.

Please consider donating to Alive Hospice Nashville in Memory of Dr. James E. Chatman

Mailing address: 1718  Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203

Online Giving : Note. Tribute Gift In Memory of Dr. James E. Chatman