Chappelle Letman, Jr., age 69. Chappelle died too soon surrounded by a number of his family of friends after a brief illness. He lived his life with grace, abiding faith, generosity, humor, and always gratitude.

Chappelle was the son of the late Reather Louise Letman and Chappelle Letman, Sr. He was proud to be born and raised in Brooklyn and the Bronx, NY.

Chappelle had a natural talent as a visual artist. He attended Pels Art School and Pratt Institute. Chappelle was selected for the Arts Student's League and to be a guest artist at the Studio Museum in Harlem. As a young man, Chappelle moved to Alaska where he became a sign painter and worked on the Alaskan Pipeline. He moved to California to attend the California School of the Arts, and his work received recognition. He has pieces in the collection of Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughn.

In 1992, while visiting his mother in NY,  Chappelle suddenly became blind due to glaucoma. He returned to California for blindness rehabilitation and moved to Cleveland in 1996. In 1999 he attended the Cleveland Institute of the Arts and under the direction of Kim Bisset, Chappelle found new life as a sculptor.

After years of honing his skills, Chappelle created a body of work that is one of his incredible legacies. He won juried art show awards. His work was purchased by many collectors, and he was working on a new sculpture at the time of his recent illness.

Chappelle is survived by countless friends and supporters, the Cleveland Catholic Blind Community,  St. Augustine Church family, and many best friends.

Memorial contributions in Chappelle's name may be made to the Cleveland Catholic Blind Community at St. Augustine Church.

Chappelle's family of friends will receive friends at ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH, 2486 West 14th Street, on FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 FROM 4 PM to 7 PM and on SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 FROM 9 AM until the time of MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL at 11 AM.

Interment Riverside Cemetery

Cleveland Catholic Blind Association
2486 West 14th Street, Cleveland OH 44113
Tel: 1-216-781-5530