Barry Steven Chesis

Barry Steven Chesis, age 57, passed away with his wife by his side on December 2, 2021. He was born on August 25, 1964 in Washington DC, District of Columbia, son of Suzanne Rome Chesis and the late Sheldon Chesis. He was also predeceased in death by his maternal grandmother Pauline “Lala” Rome, mother-in-law Nicolette “Gigi” Savage, and paternal grandparents Ben and Sophie Chesis.

Barry dedicated his entire professional career to helping people. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Maryland and from Ball State University’s counseling psychology program. After graduating, he lived briefly in Beaumont, Texas before settling in Rocky Mount, NC where he resided with his family. Barry practiced psychology for many years in both the Rocky Mount community and in numerous prisons in eastern NC. Barry was unwavering in his service to helping others. To quote a dear colleague of his, “Barry had a wide wingspan in the prison system, positively impacting so many.”

Growing up in Bowie, Maryland, Barry was an active member of Congregation Nevey Shalom and a disciplined student in school. Although studious, Barry loved to connect with people. He cherished his friendships from childhood, maintaining them throughout his life. In the evenings, or on the weekends, you could usually find Barry sitting on the back patio enjoying the outdoors while talking on the phone with his children, brothers, parents, or any one of his numerous friends. You could hear his laughter from inside the house. Barry loved to laugh and to make people laugh. He also had a special gift of listening genuinely to others, leaving them feeling heard and valued. Barry appreciated the simpler things in life and understood that genuine happiness comes from present daily experiences and connecting with and helping others. He loved to tell his sons about his childhood paper route and how he awoke at 0-dark-30 in the freezing cold before school every morning to deliver papers in the neighborhood. This story was shared on repeat over the years; it became the family joke and one we will dearly miss. Barry loved the New York Giants and relished in sharing this passion with his sons. Unknown to many, Barry also loved to write. On his computer files, in desk drawers, and on numerous legal pads, he has written hundreds of short stories, most of them funny, but all of them reflective of his intellect, wit, creativity, and deep understanding of human personality. Barry was a giver and willingly and selflessly gave of his time to lend a helping hand. For a time, you could find Barry at Harris Teeter every Saturday morning on a “shopping date” with his Gigi in order to give his father-in-law a bit of respite from caring for his wife with Alzheimer’s. Above all, Barry was a family man who loved his family with all his heart and his proudest accomplishment was most certainly his role as a father to his two sons whom he cherished and loved tremendously.

Barry was a member of Temple Beth El in Rocky Mount, NC where he served as President and was instrumental in keeping the temple functioning, even leading services as a lay-religious leader on Friday nights as well as other religious events. Barry was deeply connected to his Jewish faith and found tremendous joy in helping continue the legacy of Temple Beth El through organizing and coordinating the Torah, ark, Bimah, Yahrzeit plaques, and other religious items placed in other synagogues, with one of the Torahs being placed in a synagogue in Warsaw, Poland.

Barry leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 25 years, Indy Savage Chesis; sons Brett Ezekiel “Zeke” Chesis and Caleb David Chesis; mother Suzanne Rome Chesis; brothers Alan Michael Chesis and Richard Elliott Chesis; father-in-law D.T. “Duke” Savage; sister-in-law Traci Savage Culverhouse (Tony); nieces Alissa Chesis and Sara Kate and Annie Culverhouse; nephews Ben, Peyton, and Elan Chesis; great nephew Jalen Chesis; and many cousins and dear friends.

A visitation will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday December 7, 2021 at Cornerstone Funeral Home at 1052 S. 1st Street, Nashville, NC. A service will follow at 12:00 pm in the Chapel with Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman of Congregation Bayt Shalom officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice at 920 Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC, the Jewish Community Legacy Project (www.jclproject.org), or to a charity of your choice.