Mrs. Carolyn Hodges Chandler

On Wednesday, December 20th, Carolyn Hodges Chandler finished her amazing journey here on this earth after living 80 wonderful years. Born in Scottsboro, Alabama on March 11, 1943, Carolyn was a fixture in the North Alabama area for most of her life. Her involvement included a tenure as PTO President at Kate Duncan Smith DAR School; serving on the Mountain Valley Arts Council Board of Directors; being a founding member of the Gunter Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR); and membership in the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution after painstakingly linking the direct heritage of the Hodges Family to the Loving Family of Virginia that fought at the battles of Williamsburg and Yorktown where Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington. In the early 60s, Carolyn obtained an associate degree in business and became qualified to work for NASA. She possessed such speed at typing and dictation, she was chosen to be one of the secretaries for the Father of America’s Space Program-Dr. Werner Von Braun. She was able take stressful situations in stride and excel in her career. She was the first person use and send a fax from NASA at the Marshall Space Flight center to the NASA center in California. She helped type the secret formulas for the Gemini Program that helped get man to the moon, and even flew to watch the burning of top-secret documents. Later on, Carolyn served as a substitute teacher for several years. During this time, she was able to show care, compassion, and friendship to so many children. Along with her husband, Carolyn served a church youth counselor. Philanthropically-minded, she held patron status with both St. Jude Children’s Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Project. Carolyn leaves behind a legacy to be cherished especially by her husband of over 60 years, George Chandler; her son, Phillip Chandler (Gregory Pettigrew); daughters, Carrie Beard (Lynn) and Diana Turner (Tilghman); grandchildren, Chandler Beard (Aubrey), Anderson Turner, and Georgia Tuner; brothers, Billy Hodges and Charles Hodges; sisters, Joyce McKenzie and Margaret Gray; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Buncie Hodges; father, Clifford Hodges; and brother, Vaughn Hodges. Friends may visit with the family at Grant Memorial Chapel on Saturday, December 23, 2023 from 12-2 p.m. A private burial will take place at the Chandler-Hodges Family Cemetery. A public memorial service celebrating her great life will be held at the Nan Roberts Lane Chapel at DAR School on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 2 p.m. Rev. Joe Teal will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks for contributions to be made in Carolyn’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org). Arrangements Entrusted to Grant Memorial Chapel

Mrs. Carolyn Hodges Chandler

March 11, 1943 - December 20, 2023