Gwendolyn C. Chunn

      Gwendolyn Therlene Curlee Chunn, age 83, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away on March 7, 2026. A proud native North Carolinian, she was born on September 28, 1942 in Rowan County, and grew up as the oldest of seven siblings. As the eldest child, Gwendolyn played an important role in the daily operations of the family-owned business, The Big V Grocery. The business served as a central hub for the community and also included the Big V filling station, pool room, beauty salon, barber shop, and apartments housed in a building owned by her father, George Curlee. During the era of segregation, the Big V businesses served as a vital center of commerce and community for Salisbury’s African American residents, providing essential goods, services, and gathering spaces.

      Ms. Chunn demonstrated academic excellence early in life, graduating as valedictorian of the Price High School Class of 1960. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Romance Languages from North Carolina Central University, where a semester of study in Mexico City led to fluency in Spanish, and later earned a Master of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her academic achievement was further distinguished by her selection as a recipient of the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Scholarship, awarded to scholars demonstrating exceptional promise and achievement. She also completed doctoral coursework in Higher Education Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Throughout her career, she pursued advanced leadership training through programs such as the Justice Executives Program, the Superintendents Program, and the Government Executive Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as summer study at the Universidad Autónoma de México.

      Early in her professional career, Ms. Chunn demonstrated a strong commitment to education and student development. She served as an Instructor of Romance Languages and Literature, teaching French and Spanish at Shaw University, where she shared her passion for language and learning with her students. She later served as Director of Records and Registration at Shaw University, contributing to the academic administration and student services that support institutional success. Her dedication to expanding educational opportunity also led her to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she served as Associate Director of Project Upward Bound, a federally funded program designed to prepare and support first-generation and underserved students in their pursuit of higher education.

      In 1977, Ms. Chunn began her distinguished career in public service with the North Carolina Division of Youth Services, initially serving as a staff development specialist. Her leadership ability and commitment to professional excellence quickly led to her appointment as Chief of Staff Development and Training. She continued to advance through the ranks, serving as Assistant Director for Administrative Services, Deputy Director of Institutional Services, and later Deputy Director of the Division of Youth Services. These roles prepared her for the significant leadership responsibilities that followed and laid the foundation for her historic appointment as the first African American Director of the Division of Youth Services. In that role, Gwendolyn C. Chunn distinguished herself as a pioneering leader in the field of juvenile justice and corrections. From 1989 to 1999, she served as Director of the Division of Youth Services within the North Carolina Department of Human Resources, where she supervised more than 900 employees and served under three governors, becoming one of the few African American women in the nation at the time to lead a statewide corrections agency. Her leadership was marked by vision, integrity, and a deep commitment to improving systems that served young people across the state. In September 1992, in recognition of her outstanding service to the State of North Carolina, she was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the state’s highest civilian honors bestowed by the Governor upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and leadership benefiting the State of North Carolina and its citizens.

      Her distinguished career in juvenile justice extended well beyond North Carolina, earning national recognition for her leadership and expertise. Ms. Chunn served as the 98th President of the American Correctional Association (ACA), the nation’s leading professional organization representing thousands of correctional professionals and agencies committed to improving correctional and juvenile justice systems. Prior to her retirement from state service, she served as Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Institute within the Department of Criminal Justice at North Carolina Central University. In addition to her administrative leadership, she also served as an adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University and was in high demand as a keynote speaker, sharing her expertise nationally and internationally on issues related to juvenile justice, leadership, and reform. Ms. Chunn was widely respected for her intellect, her leadership, and her ability to guide complex organizations with clarity, discipline, and conviction. Known for her wit, directness, and unwavering sense of purpose, she was both a formidable leader and a trusted mentor to many. Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Chunn earned national respect as a visionary leader whose work left a lasting imprint on the field of juvenile justice through her leadership, scholarship, and commitment to improving opportunities for young people.

      Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ms. Chunn was a woman of deep faith and service and a lifelong member of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, where she served faithfully on the Vestry, sang in the church choir, and was an active member of the Episcopal Church Women. Her commitment to community fellowship continued through active involvement in the Holy Cross Crusaders, a faithcentered senior organization devoted to service and fellowship, where she served as Vice President and participated in outreach efforts and travel experiences. She also maintained a strong dedication to youth development through her work as a board member with the Pines of Carolina Girl Scout Council, now part of the North Carolina Coastal Pines Council. In recognition of her impact, she is listed among the prominent North Carolina women who were Girl Scouts, alongside distinguished figures such as Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Dole.

      Above all, Ms. Chunn was deeply devoted to her family. She is survived by her son, George Landon Chunn, and his children, Zoe, Sophia, and Jackson; and her daughter, Gerrelyn Chunn Patterson, her husband Brandon Patterson, and their children Hayden, Sydney, and Avery. She is also survived by her siblings, Gracia Jean Gordon and Glennette Curlee Murphy, along with beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, colleagues, and friends whose lives were enriched by her leadership, wisdom, and example. Gwendolyn Curlee Chunn leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service, scholarship, and leadership. Her life stands as a testament to excellence, determination, and the enduring impact of principled leadership, leaving an indelible mark on her family, her community, and the field of juvenile justice and corrections.

   In lieu flowers, please make donations directly to St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, 813 Darby Street, Raleigh, NC. 27610. 

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