 Delle Chatman
(1951 – 2006)
journeyed triumphantly from this life to the next on Tuesday November 7, 2006, after a four-year battle with Stage IV ovarian cancer. She was a gifted artist, director, writer and actress, whose work reflected a deep faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of her life. Her spirit, eloquence, and charisma connected her to the 30 Good Minutes audience in a very special way.
Delle made her first appearance on 30 Good Minutes on October 5, 2003, sharing a personal reflection about faith. She was a regular contributor to the program that season and the next, and was the featured speaker and subject of a Spiritual Journey segment in late 2004. At the beginning of the 2005/2006 season Delle was made a host of 30 Good Minutes and, with Lydia Talbot and Daniel Pawlus, co-hosted eleven programs featuring Dr. Tony Campolo, Sr. Joan Chittister, Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, and others. She was also a frequent contributor to New Morning on the Hallmark Channel. (The following is from Delle Chatman's personal website)
Delle Chatman began work on her first novel at the age of twelve, completed it at fifteen, and burned it at sixteen when screenwriting and theater became her primary passions. Decades later, she was still chasing down the truth through words and images, lassoing lively chunks of it in prose, film, television, theater, essays, and editorials. She celebrated life, love, and the gift of divine grace through her photography, music composition, and digital art. Among her numerous credits as a writer of television and film - Delle's scripts were produced by ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS. A screenplay written for Sidney Poitier entitled "Free of Eden" premiered on the Showtime network in 1999. The critically acclaimed feature is still screened regularly for young inner city audiences in high schools and museums. Delle's proudest moment in episodic television was the creation of an African American cowboy who joined the cast of ABC's western series "The Young Riders" in an episode featuring actress Della Reese. Her first book of short stories - The Death of a Parent: Reflections for Adults Mourning the Loss of a Father or Mother - was published in May 2001 by ACTA Publications. Her book of life lessons and fine art photographs entitled The Unteachable Ten: Wisdom and Visions for All Students of Life was published a few months later by Infinity Publishing. Delle published several articles and editorials in the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and various periodicals. She directed several independent film and video projects, and received praise from Francis Cardinal George of Chicago for her work as a photographer and visual artist focusing on religious themes. She taught creative writing for the University of Chicago's Graham School of Business and was Director of the Media Arts Division of the National High School Institute based at Northwestern University. In September 2001 - she began work on a Master of Divinity degree at Catholic Theological Union where she was an Augustus Tolton Scholar. Delle is survived by her daughter, Ramona, and brothers Gregory and Christopher. |
