Chiemi passed away on July 26, 2021 after a lengthy and valiantly fought battle with cancer.  She is survived by her husband Timothy, 2 children, and several grandchildren. 

From Chiemi's husband Tim:

We were married in 1978. She had just left Hawaii and come to live in Charleston SC with her parents after staying behind for a few months with Dawn Spencer. She had taken a job at Burger King and once I met her, as she loved to put it, I had to have her. I completed 30 years in the Navy and as such we moved often and in 93-96 we returned to Oahu on orders. One of her / our best memories is when she returned to the island for class reunion in (not sure the exact date) 1987?. We have a son who lives with his wife in Tampa with 2 sons, 2 daughters, and a daughter who just moved to Oak Island and her husband and a son and daughter. Chiemi was faced with many health issues and feeling this one was one she may not beat we decided to spend a week with my son in Tampa. Dawn Spencer lives nearby in Bradenton so we were able to meet up for lunch and they visited for a last time. I am including pictures of our visit together. Chiemi suffered greatly in these last months and wanted only me present, she didn’t want to burden her family. She wanted no arrangements or anything after her passing so I have honored that fully. She has told me so many stories about time going to school and things that stuck out are: Going to class with slippa’s on and wearing what ever you wanted. Class mates John Tamalis (sp?) and David Yamashiro on the football team (probably got all those names wrong so help me if you can)? Also told me about the tough Cheerleading coach at the school and how she had to work to stay on the team. She was always proud to be a Radford Ram and told over and over how they put in the yearbook, “Chiemi Wilson finally got the joke from last year” as English was her second language she never quite understood the use and meaning of many of our words and sayings. I pretty much gave up trying to tell her a joke as she would just stare at me as I tried to explain it:) We loved the islands and went for her last time in 2019, a trip to Kamaka Ukulele and done the tour was a highlight as I have been playing for the last few years and she knew I would love that. She will be missed. She made sure to tell me to contact Pat and say one last goodbye to her class. Her time growing up in Hawaii wasn’t always the best with challenges being a military brat but school was her highlight and being involved with cheer leading and sports was a blessing in her life. As Ive already said she wanted everything private, but we will do a scattering with Dawn in Tampa at a future date. Thanks to all that new her and called her a friend. Tim