A graveside service is set for Saturday, March 8, at 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery on North Main Street in South Boston, Va.
Juanita H. “Nita” Chandler, wife of Elon University Life Trustee Wallace H. Chandler ’49, died March 2, 2014. A memorial service was held Friday, March 7, in Richmond, Va., and a graveside service and internment take place Saturday, March 8, in South Boston, Va.
The Chandler name has deep roots on the Elon campus. Wallace Chandler, a 1949 alumnus and retired Vice Chairman of Universal Corporation, served four decades on Elon’s board of trustees, chaired the board from 1991 to 1994 and has been a trusted adviser to three Elon presidents. He and his family have been generous to his alma mater and Chandler Fountain and Plaza at the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center, Wallace L. Chandler Hall in Danieley Center, the Chandler Lounge at Rhodes Stadium and the Wallace L. Chandler Scholarship Fund all bear his name.
Wallace and Nita Chandler were married for 64 years. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. A business graduate of Madison College, now James Madison University, Nita Chandler served a term as first vice-president of the JMU General Alumni Association and as president of the Richmond Alumni Chapter. As a former National Officer of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, she served two terms as president of the Richmond Chapter and as convention chairman of the sorority’s 75th National Anniversary Celebration in Williamsburg, Va.
Nita Chandler participated as a former board member of Tuckahoe Women’s Club. She served as a member and past president of the Richmond Attorney’s Auxiliary, where she was very active in its docent programs. An active member of River Road Church, Baptist, for over 60 years, she served on the Board of Deacons, as Sunday School Superintendent, aspPresident of the Baptist Women and several terms on the Board of Christian Education and the Board of Administration. She belonged to the Country Club of Virginia and was a former member of the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach.
Survivors include her husband, Wallace L. Chandler; three daughters, Elizabeth Chandler Hallberg and her husband, Marc D. Hallberg, Brenda Chandler Bell and her husband, Francis Bell V, and Blair Chandler Grappone and her husband, J. Michael Grappone; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a sister, Jacqueline H. Szeifert of Punta Gorda, Fla. Her brother, Joseph W. Hodnett Jr. preceded her in death.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Building and Property Council of River Road Church, Baptist, 8000 River Rd., Richmond, VA 23229.