Obituary of Cleveland Chandler

Cleveland Chandler was born on April 25, 1925 in Columbia, South Carolina. He was the first and only son born to the late Solomon Chandler and the late Emma Allen and was brother to Elizabeth Montgomery who went to be with the Lord on January 10, 2011 and the late Dorothy Chandler. Cleveland is survived by his wife of 49 years, Rosetta Chandler of Baltimore, Maryland; daughters Carolyn Chandler and Patricia Mejia of Sterling, Virginia; and stepdaughter, Debra Lifsey of Baltimore, Maryland. Cleveland spent his early years in Columbia, South Carolina until he entered the Navy in 1942 at the age of 16 (true to character, Cleveland's strong will moved him to sign himself into the military by stating he was "17"). He served several tours in Korea and Europe in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy as well as the U.S. Marines through World War II and the Korean War, leaving military service in 1959. In 1959, Cleveland moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he met and married Rosetta Chandler on August 1, 1962. He worked as a taxi driver for more than 20 years. Eventually, Cleveland went to work for Towson University in Towson, Maryland, where he worked as a bus driver for people with disabilities on campus. In 1990, he retired from Towson University. He continued to live in Baltimore after his retirement until moving to Sterling, Virginia to live with daughter, Carolyn Chandler in 2006. Cleveland had a deep and abiding faith in God and rarely left home without his little green Gideon's Bible. He often traveled with one in his car. He had a great love of jazz, history and astronomy and could spend countless hours reading about historic events and watching documentary films on virtually any subject. Cleveland was incredibly proud of his extended family including his grandchildren Amelia Mejia, Nelson Enrique Mejia, Jr., Jamail Davis, and Deirdre Hall, his son-in-law Nelson Mejia, Sr., his niece Cherie Braxton and her son Alfonso Garcia, Jr., and his nephews Robert Montgomery and Kenneth Chandler. Cleveland was a Christian man who throughout his life had a close, personal relationship with God. He relied on prayer and the truth of the Holy Bible in virtually every aspect of life and turned to the Lord with every problem he faced. He had an incredible strength of spirit as was evidenced by the months-long battle with pneumonia and heart disease, which finally took his life on Saturday June 2, 2012. While his illness took a tremendous toll on his health toward the last few weeks of his life, his family is eternally grateful for the valiant fight he fought to regain his strength. His stubborn refusal to give up the fight allowed every unspoken word of admiration, respect and love to be shared, leaving his loved ones with the peace that comes from the experience of giving and receiving unconditional love. Psalm 23 1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to like down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: though anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.