Dr. Mona Jane Chamberlain Givens

Dr. Mona Jane Chamberlain Givens, 77, of Lafayette, Indiana, peacefully passed away surrounded by the love of her family. She leaves behind a legacy of compassion, wisdom, humor, and service to others.

Mona was born on June 17, 1949, in Pampa, Texas, to Samuel Lewis Chamberlain and Jane O’Neall Chamberlain. She graduated from Justin Kimball High School in Dallas, Texas, attended Trinity University in San Antonio, and later earned her doctorate in psychology from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Givens devoted her career to improving mental health care. She served in leadership roles within state mental health systems in Texas and Georgia, including Director of Quality Control at Terrell State Hospital and later Director of Investigations for the State of Georgia. Throughout her career, she was respected for her intelligence, integrity, and commitment to improving the lives of others. Her family also shared that she contributed to revisions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), reflecting her dedication to the profession she loved.

Although professionally accomplished, Mona was remembered most for her kindness, humility, and deep empathy. She had a wonderfully dry sense of humor, loved intelligent conversation, and believed that every person deserved compassion and understanding. Her personal philosophy was beautifully expressed in the words:

“Everyone is just a person.”

Outside of her career, Mona enjoyed reading, collecting angel figurines, scrapbooking, listening to ABBA, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Mamas & the Papas, and the Moody Blues. She loved superhero movies, especially Transformers, warm days at the beach, Thai and Indian cuisine, daisies, Halloween, and making handmade Christmas ornaments with her family.

Her greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted mother to Elizabeth and a loving “Nana” to Kendall, whose lives brought her endless pride and happiness.

Mona is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Tran; son-in-law, Deni Gavin; granddaughter, Kendall Tran; former son-in-law Daniel Tran; brother, Lewis Chamberlain; sister-in-law, Susan Chamberlain; cherished friend, Verna; and many extended family members, friends, and former colleagues.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Christ United Methodist Church in Lafayette, Indiana on Monday, June 29^th at 2:00pm.

Mona will be remembered as a brilliant psychologist, a compassionate advocate, and a woman whose kindness touched countless lives. Her family invites all who knew her to honor her memory by extending the same grace, understanding, and love that she so freely gave to others.