Grefonda LaChan Dunham

Grefonda LaChan Dunham was born on November 22, 1951, in Fort Benning, Georgia. She was the daughter of the late Archie Leon Mitchell and the late Glenda Marene Mitchell Jenkins, PharmD.

Ms. Dunham spent her formative years in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Her early education was attained through Emmett Scott in York County, and she graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1969. LaChan pursued higher education at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry in 1973. As a student at Fisk, she was a member of the Fisk Jubilee Singers and joined the Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. LaChan subsequently obtained her Master of Arts degree in Chemistry also from Fisk in

1975. While in Nashville, LaChan met Frederick Lenoir, and they later married. From that marriage was born Ashaki Marene Lenoir (1976), Frederick Kimani Lenoir (1979) and Dazi Sonyata Lenoir

(1980). LaChan moved back to Rock Hill to be closer to family and worked as a chemist at Celanese Corporation before embracing her entrepreneurial aspirations.

LaChan, hailing from an entrepreneurial family, and having a gift for floral arranging, successfully managed "LaChan's Flowers, Gifts & More" in Rock Hill for over twenty years, offering floral services to the local community. LaChan, always the optimist, gave love another chance in 1994 when she married Raymond Napoleon Dunham. They were married for many years before his passing in 2008.

In 2008, LaChan earned a Master of Business Administration degree with a focus on Health Care Management from the University of Phoenix, showing her dedication to lifelong learning. Motivated by her passion for working with children, she subsequently served as a substitute teacher for York County School District Three and as a teaching assistant at Saluda Trail Middle School.

LaChan was passionate about music and sang with the Mt. Olive United Methodist Church, as well as more recently with the White Hill A.M.E. Zion Church choir. Her contributions to church activities included involvement in the women's ministry and various organizations, particularly those supporting assault victims. Her kindness, friendly nature, and vibrant spirit will always be remembered. Her distinctive style, confidence, and natural beauty made her truly unforgettable.

Grefonda LaChan Dunham passed away peacefully on May 17, 2025. She was predeceased by her daughter, Ashaki Marene Lenoir (1977), and her husband, Raymond Napolean Dunham (2008).

She is survived by her son, Frederick Kimani Lenoir (Rosemary); her daughter, Dazi Lenoir Lyons (Jarian N.) of Saint Cloud, FL; six grandchildren: Camryn Imani Lenoir of Bronx, NY; Madelyn Williams, Marshall Lyons, Nasir Lyons, Lena Lyons, and Russell Lyons all of Saint Cloud, FL; cousins, Fredrica Paige, Natasha Paige-Bolton, Marasha Paige Daniels, Lauryn Smith, Zaria Daniels, Zoey Daniels and Ava Daniels all of Rock Hill, SC; as well as numerous other relatives and friends