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BIOGRAPHY:  Virginia Daniels Chavers

Virginia Daniels Chavers is a former professional model. She is also a registered nurse with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, and an Associate's Degree in Applied Science. She completed graduate work in Vocational Education at Buffalo State College. Virginia also has a license as a Real Estate salesperson.

She spent her formative years in Chicago where she was born and has three sisters and ten half sisters and brothers. She gives honor to her mother, who has been a great influence in her life.

Virginia received her initial training in the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Soon after completing her training, she moved to Buffalo with her mother and started work at the Buffalo General Hospital. She was soon given Charge Nurse responsibilities and at times was in charge of three units on one shift.

Friends and acquaintances often asked Virginia if she had ever thought of modeling. At their urging, she decided to get some training and give modeling a try. She enrolled in the prestigious Ferrel School of Charm and Modeling. Later, she enrolled in June II, the best agency available in the area. Owner and model June Visserhoff was her agent. Modeling became a segue into an exciting and rewarding career in every way.

Virginia's style can be described in one word, panache (gentle elegance). She became a popular choice of the fashion coordinators and photographers around the Buffalo area. She was usually the only African American model in a show and her modeling jobs were financially rewarding.

She was a frequent model for Adam, Meldrum and Anderson Department Store's runway shows and Tea Room Specialty shows. There were also beautiful shows for Tegler's and extravagant and lavish fundraiser shows at Wm. Hengerer's. In addition she made regular appearances on the television shows Dialing for Dollars and T.V. Auctions. Occasionally, her children's teachers would allow them and their classmates to watch Virginia on these television programs. She also modeled for Slotkins, Mable Danahy and many others.

Virginia was also a photographers' model. She worked with several well-known photographers including Sherwin Greenberg Studios, Hobart Studios and the Lensmeister Studio. After the hospital and modeling experience, Virginia went on to other accomplishments and returned to nursing.

She became the first Head Nurse on a supervisory level in an Erie County Health Department Center. She also worked in the Jesse Nash Center for ten years. While there, she also sold high-end real estate for the Amherst office of Stovroff and Herman, acquiring thirteen pieces of property of her own in the interim. Her advice to the women of today is "to never limit yourself, and not to let anyone else limit you!"

Virginia is involved in a number of community and civic groups including the Linwood Church of Christ; the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. where she holds the offices of Secretary, Theater Chair, and Political Education Chair; the NAACP and a former member of the Gloria J. Parks Community Center. She received the Community Service Award from that organization and a Gold Card service award from the African American Cultural Center. Virginia has a number of hobbies and interests including drawing and art projects, the theater, health teaching, and reading good books. She has a son Douglas II, and two daughters, Brenda and Crystill.