Theonita Jackson Chavis lived with one purpose, to glorify the Most High. She expressed that passion for her heavenly Father through her love for her family and friends (and total strangers), her heart for worship, her passion for extravagant stage productions, and her joy of working with children in the dance arts. She died in November 2025 from natural causes. She was 68.
Her childhood profession of faith came while attending Circle Drive Baptist Church. As a young adult, she was part of the House of Joy Miracle Deliverance Church in Denver, where she was married in 1981. In Boulder, she was part of Maranatha Campus Ministries, and she was an active member of City on the Hill Church for 30 years, singing on the worship team and participating in many outreach activities. In her later years, she fully expressed her Messianic Hebrew Israelite heritage and identity through home study and with friends.
Theonita was born in Chicago in 1957 to young Army soldier Nathanal Jackson and Delores Purnell Jackson, both of Memphis. She remembered their stations in Germany, Kansas and Texas, before they settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado in the 1960s.
Theonita’s birth came 364 days after her brother Mel’s, making them virtual twins. Theonita and Mel shared the same grade, and both competed in gymnastics at Mitchell High School and with the University of Colorado gymnastics club. She took second place in the Colorado High School state championships in 1975.
Theonita and Mel shared a creative bond as well. They both studied dance as undergrads at the University of Colorado – Boulder, where their duet performance to Phoebe Snow’s “San Francisco Bay Blues” won rave reviews. Mel and Theonita also received acclaim for their piece set to Kool & the Gang’s “Jungle Boogie.” Their first-place routines at Denver nightclub dance contests won them a trip to London, and a spot on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand TV show.
As a choreographer for 40 years, Theonita lent her creativity and worshipful heart to numerous church outreaches and public worship events. She spent several summers choreographing with Youth with a Mission’s Kings Kids on outreaches to California, the Midwest and Australia. She was a fitness instructor for the City of Boulder. She retired from professional dance as an instructor with Reverence Academy of Dance in Lafayette, Colo. She was a frequent volunteer at KUVO Jazz radio in Denver.
Theonita is survived by the loves of her life: her husband of 45 years, Steven, daughter Safinia, son Gabriel, daughter Chakel Palmer and son-in-law Otto with grandsons Jacob and Solomon, son Michael, brother Melvin, hosts of cousins, and many, many friends.
Theonita’s legacy of sincere worship to the Most High YAHUAH, creativity and kindness to others now rests with us. Let us love God and love our neighbor.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS: In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made in Theonita’s name to:
- TRU Community Care, Lafayette, Colo., https://www.trucare.org/
- Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center, 2836 Welton St. Denver, CO 80205, www.BrotherJeff.com
- The Joshua Blueprint youth arts ministry in Kitale, Kenya, @TheJoshuaBlueprint on Instagram and Facebook
I thank the Most High YAHUAH for her life here on earth and her sweet spirit will not be forgotten!
May God rest her soul. God bless the family.
One of the most beautiful women (inside and out) that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Thankful for her life and impact on mine.
I am so grateful to have been able to spend a good amount of my childhood with Theo & the Chavis family. Her legacy will absolutely live on through her kids & her grandkids. Praying hard for her family & missing her greatly.
Theonita consistently lived her life representing the love of Jesus to others by her actions. Beautiful inside and out, her smile lit up a room and her gift of dancing was inspirational to us all. She was a faithful friend to me. I will miss her 💔
Theonita, a beautiful daily expression of Jesus lived so genuinely and lovingly.
We are thankful and blessed to have known and witnessed her love.
Praying God’s supernatural peace comfort the entire Chavez family.
Love you all,
Doug & Sally Wertzbaugher
Theo, it was my distinct pleasure to have known you this side of heaven. How wonderful it is that you are enjoying our Jesus face-to-face. We all look forward to being reunited with you and may the Lord richly bless Steve and your children as they serve out their remaining days here on this earth
Christ is all!
Theo will be remembered by her smile that lit her face and warmed any heart that saw it.
Our prayer times and worshipping together will always be remembered and special to me .
Please say hi and hug Tom and Justin for me .
Theonita was one of the most beautiful women inside and out that I have ever known. She had the sweetest spirit, and was such a blessing to so many. I am so sad for all of you in the family that she has passed, but I also rejoice with you that she is now with her Savior whom she has loved and served so dearly. I’m praying for Yeshua’s peace and comfort for all of you.
Theo was one of my best friends and I will miss her dearly. I’ll miss so much about her!
How her love for YA, Yeshua and The Holy Spirit just continually flowed from her being!!!
Her smile, her sense of humor, her hugs, her grace and elegance when she danced and she worshiped, her honesty, her wisdom and knowledge, along with her faithfulness as a prayer partner, her gentle spirit and her warrior heart. How she loved and honored her husband Steve, how she poured into her kids, her grandchildren, her parents, her brother and everyone she encountered. I thank God He brought her into my live over 30 years ago. It’s been such an honor and privilege of being one of her friends. She’s poured into my life in so many ways that I can’t count the multitude of ways there are. Words can’t describe the way you have affected my life my friend.
I knew Theonita from Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs.I was just thinking and wondering what ever became of her and Melvin, whom I also knew back then.We were in the same graduating class. I always thought highly of Theonita and Melvin. They were always so kind. Was surprised to find Theonita has gone to be with her Lord. A lovely and kind soul.
I’m so sad to hear this news. I was reminiscing today about when my family lived in the old Eastborough neighborhood in Colorado Springs. I met Melvin and Theonita when my older sister, Dona (’74), went to high school with them at Mitchell. What a beautiful girl! So sweet. I remember the trampoline in the back yard. Lots of fun for everyone!! I thought Theonita was beautiful. May God bless her and her family. She’s now resting in the arms of Jesus. ‘Til we meet again. With much love, Teri.
I love you my dear Sister in Yahusha.
I shall see you again. I will remain in prayer over your beloved family here and see you one day soon. Thank you for your many kindnesses at City on The Hill Boulder years ago. What a blessing you are beautiful
Theo is a friend from the transformative time in Boulder when her presence lent herself to confirmation of what everyone was feeling- which was that in Him- We live and move and have our being. She was a touchstone of His presence and her voice and her thoughts guided us in fellowship and validation that what we were moving through was real. Now that she is with Him in heaven, she brings us closer together and she unites us in Him and we receive assurance of hope .
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Oh Theo, I will forever remember your beautiful smile and the joy, happiness and kindness that radiated from within you, to all who knew you. You were one of the first women I met at COTH, when I first went as a young women. I always enjoyed your singing, dancing, worship and prayers. Thank you for being a wonderful woman of God and ministering to myself and so many others. We love you, my friend, enjoy Jesus and all of Heaven! Our prayers are with your family, until we all meet again! Love, The Jones Family
Oh, praise the name of the Lord most high
Oh, praise his name forever more
For endless days, we will sing your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord, our God🎶
I can’t recall a single image of Theonita when she wasn’t smiling! She was a kind, generous, beautiful, and gracious soul. It was a blessing to have shared a small portion of her life. God bless your beautiful family as you continue to carry her spirit into the world.