In our family, there was a minister, a policeman, a realtor, a boy scout leader, a DJ, an engraver, a luthier, a winemaker and a folk singer. And his name was Walter Gragg Chaffin… He was all that and so much more. He was my first cousin and I loved him dearly.
Growing up in Charlottesville during the 60s, Gragg played in coffee shops around the University corner’s burgeoning folk music scene and entertained our every family gathering with his humor and musicianship. He was the life of the party. And now our Gragg is gone. But his legacy will endure.
Although a handsome and personable youth, he never enjoyed good health. Early in life, he suffered from debilitating spells of asthma and later diabetes as well as a tragically undiagnosed case of Lyme disease which rendered his fingers useless for his most cherished endeavor – playing music.
Gragg was the son of a telephone operator and a career Naval officer. His Mom, June Mawyer Chaffin was born in the Blue Ridge Mountains and grew up near the writer Earl Hamner Jr. She was something of a writer herself in her later years, authoring her childhood memoirs and a beautiful poem about a mustard seed. Gragg’s Dad, Tip, was an official Navy photographer and later a golf pro at Keswick before working for the Post Office. Gragg was born while Tip was stationed in San Diego but spent the rest of his life in Charlottesville, Meherrin and Halifax with his beloved fiancé Emily. He loved to camp and fish and sit around a fire with friends swapping stories, sippin’, pickin’ and grinnin’.
Gragg had a real soft spot for animals in addition to his love of the outdoors; he loved his feral and pet cats as much as any one I’ve ever known. He started feeding one or two stray cats and soon a whole litter was showing up daily at his door. But Gragg had the biggest soft spot of all for his own family. He never missed a hospital visit to a sick relative or a phone call to check in with a loved one even when he was barely able to get around due to neuropathy. We would chat across the miles about everything from synthesizers to steam trains and he was always remarkably well informed with astute observations. He gave me my first guitar, an Irish penny whistle, a gorgeous Oscar Schmidt electric autoharp that he modified himself with special minor chords and he inspired my lifelong love of music. Thank you Gragg!
Few people knew that Gragg was also a devoted father who loved his only son Gene very much, despite being estranged from him for many years.
For some reason, our family song became “Your Cheatin’ Heart” by Hank Williams and Gragg would lead us in renditions during countless cookouts and holiday parties over the years. He taught me the chords and I would try strumming along but couldn’t hold a candle to his singing and playing. Nonetheless, we all gave our rousing best efforts lifting our voices together to celebrate music, life and family, thanks to Gragg. Cheers, dear cousin. You are gone but will never be forgotten. May you sing with the choir of angels.
Our condolences, Jan. So much love. Leaves a huge hole for everyone, but the love will always last
thanks for the tribute. Feel like I know him that much better. he will be missed
Walt was a great person and friend, he and
I made many road trips together. He and I were friends for over fifty years. Tried to talk him out of his first marriage but failed. Talked to him off and on the last year will truly miss him. You and the family are in my prayers. Using Walt’s sign off
Cheers
Dick
Thank you for sharing this. I am glad I tumbled across your tribute. Walt, as I knew him, is definitely singing with angels. I am also glad he and I had reconnected on FB. May he rest in peace.
My name is Matthew Early or as “Walt” called me, “Me Lad Wit’ Brains”. He was also affectionately nicknamed “The Neighb”, short for “The Neighbor”, because he lived between me and my friend Brian Fowler and everyone I Meherrin had to have at least one nickname.
Brian was a talented musician on many instruments by his teenage years and I was learning piano.
Meherrin was full of eclectic souls, so much that it was often said that Meherrin wasn’t a place, it was a state of mind. So, Walt nestled in nicely to the huge nest of indigenous and big personalities.
Walt and I would literally stay up all night playing songs. He had such a huge repertoire of Gaelic, Irish, and American folk songs that it was more of a Folk Music History class than just two dudes having drinks and jamming out. The sun would rise and I would stumble home and trudge through morning college courses at the local community college.
He taught me so many songs that my musical tastes grew exponentially. He introduced me to Ian & Sylvia, The Clancy Brothers, Jerry Jeff Walker, and I introduced him to The Pouges, Morrissey, and The Counting Crows. Our favorite song to sing together was “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”/Bob Dylan.
We’d spend days working on his kitchen, drinking Irish coffee, smoking cigarettes, and solving the world’s problems over a bottle of Elijah Craig. In the summer he always participated in our Redneck Triathalon which consisted of a game of horseshoes, a riding lawnmower race, followed by a dart tournament. I think he even won once!
I took a lot of pride introducing all of my freaky, weirdo, musician friends to Walt that would usually turn into an all night jam session.
Being neighbors he became good friends with my parents. He was more than a neighbor or a friend. He was like family. I looked up to him very much and I still enjoy telling stories about our adventures. (Considering I’m not sure who’ll be reading this or what the statute of limitations is for some of the things we did I’ll refrain from posting here.)
Walt “WG” Chaffin, The Neighb, or Gragg ss known by all of us was the most weirdest, eclectic, and fascinating man I have ever met, (having spent some time with road musicians, that’s a strong statement) and I will always love him dearly and cherish the impact he had on my life.
Thank you Matthew, Linda, Dick and all dear friends for your responses. You honor him in many touching ways and your stories about him are greatly appreciated.
That man was an amazing guy.. I remember hanging out with Walter Chaffin playing music with him and Matt Early we would jam to the early hour of he morning .. it was by him I had my first Irish coffee.. he even let me keep the bottle .. empty of course haha he was so cool .. he had this cool synthesizer I think an Emu with a chip that no one else had it was amazing.
He taught me so many songs.. hell he made me want to be Irish haha I learned the song “Tinker” from him .. still sing that song some times by myself haha
He was a fascinating man and a joy to talk to.. my life is fuller for having met and spent time with this great guy… RIP Walt aka the Neighb
Walt, or Gragg as I called him, was my first cousin but more like a brother as our parents lived “across the creek” from each other as I grew through my adolescent and teenage years. He taught me the basics of playing the guitar and a true love of all forms of music
When Gragg was present at all family functions, music was always a part of our celebrations. He had a great voice, was an accomplished musician and always regaled us with many songs at all family functions plus lots of funny stories.
I will miss his passion for music, his wry sense of humor, his love for food cooked outside and his overall joy of life. His final years were subdued but he still told stories with a twinkle in his eye and a soft chuckle about good times gone by. Rest In Peace dear cousin.
Love, Susan