Gertrude T. Chandler, 100, won gold at London flower show
June 6, 2022
Gertrude Thomas Chandler of Georgetown, an award-winning gardener, died Monday surrounded by her family. She was 100.
She was born May 1, 1922, the daughter of Sally Gertrude Budd Thomas and Samuel Sidney Thomas. She graduated from Andrews High School and attended Rice Business College. She was married to the late Wilbur Roslyn “Rossie” Chandler.
A lover of nature and the outdoors, Mrs. Chandler was a nationally-accredited master flower show judge and landscape critic, a master gardener, a life member of the National Council of State Garden Clubs and a former chaplain and life member of the Garden Club of South Carolina. She was chosen to represent the U.S. and won the coveted gold medal for her flower design in the 1996 Royal Horticulture Society’s Chelsea Flower Show in London.
Mrs. Chandler served on the National Council of Garden Clubs Board for over 25 years. In addition, she served on the boards of the Kaminski House and the Georgetown Historic Foundation. She served on the Georgetown County Board of Education for 17 years.
A member of Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church for over 75 years, Mrs. Chandler served as a board of trustee chairman, played the piano for the men’s Sunday school class, was a youth group counselor and a member of the chancel choir. The church gardens, which she designed and landscaped, are included in Nell S. Graydon’s book “South Carolina Gardens.”
She is survived by her daughters, Wilmer C. Richardson (Doug) of Clemson and Linda C. Hansen (Ralph) of Richmond Hill, Ga.; her grandchildren, David Richardson, Ted Richardson, Roslyn H. Woerhrman (Scott), Christine H. Lefevre (Jason) and John Hansen III.; her great-grandsons, Ben, Alex, Jeff, Brian and Michael Richardson, and Chase Lefevre; her great-granddaughter, Madeline Gertrude Woehrman; and many nieces and nephews.
Her sisters, Dorothy T. Carter and Edna T. Sawyer, and her brothers, Basil, Edward, Sidney and David Thomas, died before her.
Funeral services were Wednesday at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. Burial was in Elmwood Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the church, 901 Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC. 29440 or a charity of your choice.
