Janice Chandler

      MT. GILEAD –  On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Mrs. Janice Polster Chandler, 82, passed away peacefully at her home.              There will be a service of music and celebration of her life at 11:00 AM, Thursday, January 18, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church, Wadesboro with Rev. Heather McIntyre officiating. Interment will follow in Sharon Cemetery, Mt. Gilead.              The family will greet friends from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Leavitt Funeral Home, Wadesboro.              Janice was born February 5, 1941, in Richmond, VA and was a daughter of the late Milton Durward Polster and the late Hazel Mae Bradley Polster. She was a graduate of Andrew Lewis High School, Salem, VA and earned a bachelor's degree in music from Greensboro College.              She served as organist of Trinity United Methodist Church in Troy and this is where she met her future husband, Larry Rodney Chandler of Mt. Gilead. They were married and blessed with three children. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Mt. Gilead.              Janice taught music in the Montgomery County School System for 15 years, having retired from West Montgomery Middle School. She also taught private piano lessons.              Her love for music and heart's desire to serve in church music ministry, led her to First Presbyterian Church in Wadesboro. She had a fruitful ministry there with the children, chancel and handbell choirs for 44 years.              She was not only a gifted pianist and organist, but she also played the dulcimer, cello, violin and guitar. She looked forward to the annual music conferences at Montreat, which she attended even when her children were small and during their childhood, they would camp at Montreat while she was attending the conference.              Janice often shared her gift of music with other churches in Anson and Montgomery Counties when called upon. She has been a member of the Amity Club in Mt. Gilead and also the Anson Singers in Wadesboro. She always supported efforts for combined choirs and worship among the churches in Uptown Wadesboro.              She was also an accomplished crafter and she enjoyed woodworking, engraving and refinishing furniture.              Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Don Chandler and wife, Stephanie of Greensboro, Bob Chandler and wife, Alex of Mt. Gilead and Betsy Jewell and husband, John of Greensboro; her grandchildren, Colin, Sam, Johnathan, Caleb, Caitlyn, Ellie, Cammie and Cassie; her sisters and brother, Barbara Hutcherson and husband, Jack of Jackson, GA, Durward Polster, Jr. and wife, Caroline of Ruther Glen, VA and Gina Polster of Salem, VA and their families.              In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Chandler.              In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Music Ministry, P.O. Box 351, Wadesboro, NC 28170.   "Then to my raptured ear Let one sweet song be given; Let music cheer me last on earth And greet me first in heaven."              The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com