Mary Ann Chandler | Obituaries

Mrs. Mary Ann (Paige) Chandler entered Heaven on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 after a brief stay at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel. She was 92.

She was born Sept. 8, 1931, in Kemper County and dedicated her life sacrificially to her family and Christian service. The mother of seven children was an active church leader, speaker and teacher, and the wife of a Baptist pastor. A frugal homemaker and good steward, she sewed garments for her family and community members.

“I love the Lord and I love to talk about Him,” was her motto, and the Serenity Prayer by the late German theologian Reinhold Niebuhr was prominently displayed in her home.

Mrs. Chandler studied to show herself approved, completing numerous biblical education and leadership training courses offered through the Sunday School Publishing Board and the Christian Education Department of the National Baptist Convention and its subsidiaries in Mississippi and Pennsylvania, as well as courses offered through Mississippi Baptist Seminary.

She was an active teacher, mission worker, Bible speaker and leader during memberships at Providence Baptist Church in Laurel and at Morning Star Baptist Church in Erie, Pa., having moved to the town in midlife.

She was known throughout Erie as a Christian leader and church mother. She served in several capacities, including superintendent of the Junior Sunday School Department, chairman of the Board of Christian Education, president of the Deaconess Board, president of the Graduation Fund and a founding member of the Scholarship Fund, all at Morning Star Baptist Church. Her greater church community outreach included vice presidency of the Upper Area of the Allegheny Union Baptist Association Women’s Auxiliary in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Professionally, she was a cafeteria manager, childcare worker and self-employed seamstress and baker known for her moist cakes and melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies. She enjoyed preparing her family’s favorite dishes.

She earned a Certificate of High School Equivalency, was a graduate of the Institute of Biblical Studies and completed several culinary and early childhood education courses, workshops and conferences. She studied throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents Robert Paige and Hallie Ann (Thompson) Paige; her husband Rev. T.J. Chandler;  son Robert Randolph Chandler; sisters Dora Smith, Victoria Cooley Toliver, Carrie Ross and Mary Lee McGowan; and brothers Robert Henry Paige and Robert Lee Paige.

She is survived by daughters Veronica Hopson of Laurel and Erie, Maxine Tyler of New Orleans and Diana Chandler of Nashville; sons Willie Raymond Chandler of New Orleans, Jeffery (Carolyn) Chandler of Ellisville and Walter Wayne (Joyce) Chandler of Lawton, Okla.; sister Rosa Mary (John) Gore of Erie; brother Darryl Paige of Laurel; daughter-in-law Judy Chandler of Soso; beloved cousin Louise Bender of Laurel; 24 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Mrs. Chandler will be funeralized Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church at 1908 N. Joe Wheeler Ave. in Laurel, with interment in Nora Davis Cemetery. Chapel of Angels Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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