More about June

I was born in the Bronzeville area of Chicago, where my family had resided for over seventy years before I came along. My parents and various relatives called me by a multitude of names growing up; Vincent, Vinnie, V.J., Llew (Short for Llewellyn, my middle name), Boonie, Buinley and June - with the last three mentioned being from my parents. But none of them stuck like the name June. I attribute it to my family’s roots in the south and the tradition of naming children for the month they were born in. It could also be attributed to my sharing a birthday with my Grandpa Oscar Louis (June 3rd) and being named after my Daddy. Either way, I wear it as a name that means more to me than anything. It’s always brought me happiness.

I was raised by Vincent Llewellyn Chappelle, Sr. and Elizabeth Laura Milton-Chappelle (Known mainly as Betty). Biologically they are my maternal grandparents and legally adopted me when I was 3 - 6 weeks old. My birth mom – whom I love deeply- was young and unable to care for me in the way she wanted, so allowing her parents to raise me was a saving grace.

In our house there were never less than ten relatives living there and there was never a dull moment. Amongst these relatives I was raised with were two of my younger brothers, Durand (Rando) and DeAndre (Rocky).

As children we all attended Avalon Park Elementary School from K-8^th. Then on to Hirsch Metro High School, which part of our family had attended since the 1970s.

I was a precocious, shy, and artsy kid who often felt misunderstood and underappreciated. I was never much for card games like Uno or Spades or even playing video games and sports. Whenever I drew or painted a picture for my parents or stepped onto a stage to dance; even sing at church or school I felt like I was on a cloud and nothing could bring me to the ground. I loved studying history and anthropology, reading all sorts of books (including Mama’s dictionary and encyclopedia set), marine biology, and cooking. But nothing interested me more than singing and dancing.