George Ellen Chandler

George Ellen Taylor Chandler, Kosciusko resident and retired legal secretary, died on Saturday, December 2, 2023, after battling Parkinson’s Disease. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday evening, December 4, at Jordan Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Visitation will be on Tuesday morning from 9: 30 a.m. to 10: 30 a.m. in the chapel at First Baptist Church, Kosciusko, with the funeral service to follow in the sanctuary at 11. Rev. Barry Corbett, Rev. Mark Parnell and Rev. Luke Gardner will officiate. Interment will be in the Chandler plot at Parkway Cemetery, Kosciusko. George Ellen was a retired legal secretary, having been employed by Ray Mikell for 35 years.

Named for her paternal grandparents, George W. Taylor and Ellen King Taylor, George Ellen was born September 7, 1936. She was the oldest child of Ollie W. Taylor and Gertrude Dowell Taylor of the Dossville Community.

An active member of First Baptist Church, George Ellen taught children’s Sunday School for 35 years. In 1998, she served as co-chairman of the Church’s Sesquicentennial Celebration and was one of the authors of The History of First Baptist Church, Kosciusko, Mississippi 1848-1998. Her enjoyment of writing led her to write her own memories, a collection of her husband’s stories called Stacy’s Stories and a book of memories of her late son, Stephen Keith Chandler. She served as secretary for various organizations and as an officer in DAR. She faithfully served as church clerk of First Baptist Church for 18 years.

George Ellen was a member of the Samuel Hammond Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution, and the Cameo Society. She was an honorary charter member of the Old Choctaw DAR in Eupora and a charter member of the Dancing Rabbit Genealogy and Historical Society. For many years she served as secretary for the Kosciusko-Attala Historical Society.

George Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Stacy L. Chandler, her youngest son, Stephen K. Chandler, her parents and brothers, Robert Payton Bell, Charles W. Taylor, and Joe E. Taylor.

Her survivors are her son, Robert Michael Chandler; her daughter, Melanie Chandler Harris and her husband, Weldon Harris; her son, Ronald Stacy Chandler; and her daughter- in-law, Charla Chandler Grace. Grandchildren are Cameron Harris, Kristen Harris Chisolm and husband, Brent; Taylor Harris and wife, Monica; Jeanine Chandler Collums and husband, Brad; Evan Chandler and wife, Holi; Rebecca Chandler Kelly and husband Adam; and Jonathan Chandler and wife Lauren. Great-grandchildren are Chandler Collums, Payton Collums, Eliza Kate Harris, Paul Henry Harris, Emma Joy Chandler, Issac Charles Chandler, Laura Katherine Harris, and Walter Jack Harris. Her only sister, Martha Pearl Williamson, also survives.

Pallbearers are Cameron Harris, Taylor Harris, Evan Chandler, Jonathan Chandler, Brad Collums, Adam Kelly, Duane Taylor, and Chandler Collums.

Honorary pallbearers are Lamar Williamson, Jimmy Jenkins, Cliff Jenkins, Robert Simpson, Bill Cullen, George Dorrill, John Munn, Jimmy Cockroft, Pat Taylor, Eddie Fenwick, Jay Price, and Howard Lewis.

Memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 70, Kosciusko, Mississippi 39090.