Michael E. Chambers

Michael Emerson Chambers departed this life on February 9, 2024 after experiencing a medical emergency while driving. A good Samaritan noticed he was in distress and summoned public safety to rush him to Franklin Square Hospital where attempts made to improve his state failed. Michael was born July 1, 1947 to Laura Jean Chambers (Bostick) and Rudolph Chambers. When their marriage ended Laura held various positions to care for her young son. Michael attended the Baltimore City Public Schools and in 1965 graduated from Baltimore City College. While at City, Michael was a member of the school’s city championship JV basketball team. He continued to hone his skills offensively and defensively on the courts around the city. He was particularly attracted to Cloverdale where he was challenged by some of the best players in Baltimore. For years, Michael was also a musician and played in the brass section of the Falcon Drum and Bugle Corps housed off of Pennsylvania Avenue. In September of 1965, Michael registered as a freshman student at Coppin State College (CSU) where he actively participated in student organization and in 1966, he pledged and became a member of Delta Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Soon, he along with other young and talented students joined Coppin’s Basketball team. After a season, the players began to reflect team qualites eventually leading them to the 1st championship season at Coppin by becoming the Potomac Intercollegiate Conference (PIC) champions! That year demonstrated Coppin had become a worthy basketball opponent. As a senior, Michael became president of the Student Government Association (SGA). Under his leadership, he and his staff recognized building inefficiencies, and a lack of funding from the state in comparison to predominately white institution. The SGA executive committee voted to address the student body. Michael informed the entire student body of the concerns expressed in the executive committee and a motion/seconded was made to boycott further learning at the institution and plans were adopted to move educational efforts to St. Cecelia Roman Catholic Church and other churches willing to support student efforts. As momentum grew, Governor Marvin Mandel came to our headquarters to discuss student concerns and later, SGA leadership took busses of students to Annapolis and addressed the legislators. Coppinites were the only college students in the U.S. to boycott the treatment its institution was receiving from Maryland. Coppin students were seen as conscientious civil rights activists! Michael graduated from Coppin in 1969 with a degree in Mathematics and taught in the school system of Baltimore for years. He and his wife of 34-years, Janice M. Chambers (transitioned in 2023) taught in the Virgin Islands for more than 7 years while Michael earned his Master’s Degree. For another 2 years, they taught students in Ghana in the International Foundation for Educational and Self-Help program run by Reverend Dr. Leon Sullivan. Later, after some additional time in the Virgin Islands, they returned to Baltimore and Michael served as Chairman of Mathematics at the Crossroads Alternative Center in Baltimore Co. Michael is a spiritual being and sought to walk his path through working with youth getting them to understand the importance of math as a universal concept assisting us in our various life efforts. Michael is survived by his step-daughter Lisa Martin and her children, Devin and Devonna Anderson, three great-grandchildren; Deniya and Jerrod Anderson, Snoh Wachuku, a sister-in-law Kathy M. Hall, other family and a host of friends, and many Sigmas and Zetas. Michael no longer needs to walk - He flies

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Michael E. Chambers

July 1, 1947 - February 9, 2024