Ressie Chandler

Ressie Mae Chandler, 89, of Simpsonville, who was born in Anderson County on June 11, 1921, the eleventh child of Lawrence Lafayette McAlister and Willie Olivia McAlister, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 9, 2011 at the home of her son.

A member of Fork Shoals Baptist Church, she was a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, neighbor and friend to many. She was a dutiful housewife and, as anyone who has ever tasted one of her biscuits or pound cake can attest, a cook without peer. She delighted in her flowers and her vegetable garden.
She is survived by her daughter, Jane Clary of Simpsonville, her son, Robin Chandler and her daughter-in-law, Kay of Prosperity, her sister, Grace Holder of Greenville, four grandchildren, Capt. Patrick Clary of Fort Lewis, WA, Kimberly (Maj. Jim) Hock of Gray Court, Stephanie (First Class Petty Officer Rex Allen) Wimberly of Jacksonville, FL and Beau Chandler of Fort Benning, GA., three great grandchildren, Rex Allen Wimberly, II, Katelynn Mae Wimberly and Justin Matthew Hock and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of forty-two years, Claude Chandler, her parents, eleven brothers and sister and all of their spouses, all eleven of her husband's brothers and sisters and all of their spouses, her son-in-law, Frank D. Clary, and by many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life service will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at the Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, with Rev. Marion Lancaster presiding. Burial will immediately follow at Greenville Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 11, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either the Children's Nursery Fund or the Lottie Moon Fund, both at Fork Shoals Baptist Church, 110 Fork Shoals Road, Pelzer, SC 29669.

Pallbearers will be Patrick Clary, Jim Hock, Rex Wimberly, John Edwards, Zack Edwards and Leon Chandler. Sonny Dickerson, Dale Epting and Bud Bryant will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family extends heart-felt thanks to her day caregiver, Ruth Wise, for the love and care she provided the past year.

A memorial message may be written to the family at Thomas-McAfee Funeral Home.com