Chenault Family National Association
NEWS AND OBITUARIES
This is the place to look to catch up on current news about your Chenault, Chennault, Shinault, Shinall or "however you may spell it" cousins. If you have news you would like to share about your kin, just e-mail our web master, and then look for it here. If your branch of the family is planning a get-together or reunion, we'll post it here to get the word out. We look forward to hearing from you.
NEWS | OBITUARIES | STATE REUNIONS
Belle Montgomery Chenault, our beloved former historian and publisher of the 1991 Red Book, served our family and the community at large in many roles. Earlier this year, one of the many organizations, the Alabama State Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, extended another honor to her in a ceremony where a Memorial Wreath was placed at the site of her burial in the City Cemetery of Decatur, AL. To view a PDF file of the article written by Mary Stagg Johnston and published in the Summer 2009 Issue of the 17th Century Review, a quarterly publication of the organization, click here.
Constable Elijah Chenault (abt. 1775-1823) - Yes, Constable Chenault, who died in 1823, is still making news. In January 2008, our association was notified that Constable Chenault would be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. His appearance in the memorial was officially dedicated 13 May 2009 at the Annual Candlelight Vigil during National Police Week. As to why his name is being added to the memorial, it came to light that he was quite possibly the very first law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty in the United States of America. Our thanks go to Amy Bertsch, who was in charge of the investigation of the story about Constable Chenault. She contacted us seeking information as to who this Elijah Chenault was and where he was born. Our previous research of the Caroline County line of the family had provided enough information to make the connections and provide the background she needed about how he came to be in Alexandria, VA, in law enforcement at the time of his death. For more about this notable Chenault, refer to his profile on the Notable Cousins page of this site.
Barbara Chenault MacManus, is currently serving a President General of the National Huguenot Society She attended the society's Annual Congress in Washington, D.C. in April. We are proud of Barbara's involvement with this organization and honored to have a cousin in this position.
Our
cousin, Christopher Errol Shinall, lost his battle with cancer on 19 Apr 2009.
His love of exploring our family history and sharing his findings will be sorely
missed by those of us who had come to respect the thought and creativity he put
into his work. Following is a eulogy composed by his daughter, Anita.
Christopher Errol Shinall
6 Apr 1940-19 Apr 2009
"My father was unique. He was a loving son, a devoted husband, and a caring and sensitive father, grandfather, and uncle. Although he settled far from his birthplace in Illinois, he loved his extended family fiercely and always kept in touch. He was a loyal friend and a dedicated correspondent, both through letters and email. He was a gentleman who appreciated good manners and erudition. He was unfailingly kind to everyone he met. He had a diverse set of interests, to which he devoted his keen mind and energies. He studied genealogy of the Shinall family extensively, and enjoyed participating in a number of Chenault family reunions across he United States. He was an avid traveler who especially enjoyed his many voyages abroad: Ecuador, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Haiti, and Central America were among his itineraries. He loved movies and classical music, and had exquisite and particular tastes in both. Though he had refined preferences, he was never pretentious. His sense of humor was both subtle and whimsical.
"Above all, Christopher Errol Shinall was an artist, in all that he did. His talents encompassed a wide spectrum of arts: drawing, ceramics, design, architecture, creative writing, caricature, piano, music composition, photography, and even cake decoration. His special love of cathedrals was reflected in his magnum opus, a book of 81 pen and ink renderings of cathedrals from around the world. He was a master builder as well, who not only designed extensive renovations of his house, but also did the majority of the construction as well, with the help of his family, who were frequently conscripted into hard labor for the cause. He was a renaissance man in the truest sense.
"My father was a man of quiet endurance and strength, who faced his long battle with cancer with courage and grace. Even in the face of his illness, he continued to live life to its fullest. In the 5 years that he battled cancer, he attended two family weddings, watched two grandchildren grow and welcomed the birth of a third, made trips to Ecuador, France, and Germany, completed his cathedral book, finally acquired his 7 foot 6 inch Yamaha grand piano, and continued to work full time as he received chemotherapy. Despite all he achieved, he had an innate humility about him, and never thought he had done enough.
"As a son, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend, my father’s absence leaves a gaping hole in the lives of the many people who loved him. We know we will never meet another man like him. We will always remember his playful humor and sweet words, and the many artistic accomplishments created by his beautiful hands."
STATE REUNIONS
(see "SET SAIL" page
for National Reunion details)
Note: If you are part of a state reunion for the Chenault family by any of the spellings and do not find your reunion details
below, please contact Sue Chenault, webmaster, to have the plans posted.
ARKANSAS Chenault Reunion - The reunion is usually held the third Sunday in September; however, definite plans have not yet been made. Contact Bonnie Chenault McNeal at a later date for information. 1005 North Market Street, Benton, AR 72016, or call her at (501)778-3147.
KENTUCKY Chenault Reunion - 2010 details will be posted here when available.
MISSOURI Chenault Reunion - 2010 details will be posted here when available.