Libertarian Alexander Chandler, 25, of Peachtree City, died in motorcycle crash

By Rick Badie

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Alex Chandler was introduced to the Libertarian Party through his father’s political activism.

In 1998, Walker Lawrence Chandler ran unsuccessfully for state attorney general. The elder Chandler, a lawyer, said his son would have found his way to the Libertarian Party even without his father’s influence.

“A lot of people are Libertarians because they hate government oppression,” his father said, “so it’s a natural draw when you’re young. I think [Alex] would have come to it on his own.”

Maybe so, said Emily Poole, who chairs the Fayette County Libertarian Party. She said Mr. Chandler, the party secretary, was a free spirit who took serious personal responsibility and freedoms.

“He had wonderful ideas on how to get our word out — letters we could write, things we could do as a party to spread the message,” she said. “He was an independent thinker and I think that’s what brought him to the party.”

A highlight of Mr. Chandler’s political activism took place in 2008. That year, he attended the Libertarian Party’s national convention as a Georgia delegate.

Politics aside, Mr. Chandler may have been happiest helping others. As assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 123 of Zebulon, the Eagle Scout involved the Scouts in numerous charitable causes, said Scoutmaster Karl Pohle.

“He was gung-ho to improve the troop,” he said. “If he found out some kind of charity group had something that needed to be done, he’d try to arrange for the Scouts to take part. He was ready. Always prepared.”

Alexander Shi Gray Chandler, 25, of Peachtree City died Sept. 24 in a motorcycle accident in Clayton County. The memorial service will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Friendship Presbyterian Church, near Concord in Pike County. Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

In 2002, Mr. Chandler graduated from McIntosh High School. He worked as an auto mechanic for a while, then enrolled at Atlanta Metropolitan Technical College to study drafting. He’d always been good with his hands. As a kid he’d always kept tape, pocket knives and rope handy.

He and his mother, Ruth Goeller Chandler, owned Chandler Properties Inc., a firm in Peachtree City that specialized in property upkeep and maintenance.

Mr. Chandler belonged to Liberty Baptist Church in Riverdale and the Newnan-Coweta Lions Club.

He started working at Auto Pro, a repair shop in Peachtree City, when he was in high school. Though he had moved on, he still stopped by to chat with owner Adam Strickland and others.

“To be 25 years old, he was very giving of himself,” Mr. Strickland said. “In the last several years, he was always into some activity to help others. He talked a lot about going out to help the homeless, doing all kinds of charitable things.”

Additional survivors include a brother, Zebulon Kelly Chandler of Atlanta; a sister, Canada Johanna Gordon, a stepbrother, Aaron Gordon, both of Los Angeles; and his grandmother, Nedra Goeller of Charleston, W.Va.