Chandler Peterson

Written by Mrs. Barbara Peterson

James Chandler Peterson, age 77, resident of Ailey, Georgia, passed away early Monday morning, October 24, 2022, after an extended illness and onslaught of cancer.

Burial has been set for Saturday, October 29, 2022, with graveside services at the Peterson Cemetery in Ailey, Georgia.  Mr. Peterson and his wife Barbara were set to celebrate 45 years together on the day of his interment.

There will also be a reception afterwards at the Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home in Vidalia from 3:00-4:30, immediately following the burial service, for friends and family.

Graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in History, Chandler received his LLD from Emory Law School, where he was a National Moot Court Champion in debate.  He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.

He went on to receive his MBA from University of Georgia and Degree from the London School of Economics, London, England.

He was a Co-Founder and first President of the National Association of Financial Planners and during the 80s founded Peterson Wealth Management, a pioneering financial firm, Atlanta, Georgia who expanded Globally to open a Europe Headquarters in London, England.

During the 80’s he was a member of many Atlanta-Based Civic Organizations and was a Charter Member of the World Trade Club, member Capital City Club, Commerce Club and others.  He served on the Boards of SRI (Stanford Research Institute), California; Emory Board of Visitors and Duke University Board of Visitors.

He was selected by a National Survey of his peers as one of the “Top 5 Financial Leaders in the U.S.” sponsored by Merrill Lynch.

His career and interests inspired him to participate with World Leaders at NATO in Brussels, Belgium, where he served as a Plenary Co-Chair with Henry Kissinger on “The Future of Global Security in the Southern Hemisphere of the World”.

He was a member of the Washington Quarterly Roundtable of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Washington, D.C., and member of the  Phoenix (AZ) Committee on Foreign Relation(P-CFR).

Through his expanded Global Firm he became friends and a strong supporter of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, serving as co-chair of the 2nd Inaugural Ball and member of the Small Business Council to the President. He continued to serve George H.W. Bush and George Bush, both U.S. Presidents.  He counted many U.S. Senators and Congressmen as friends, along with Governors who he frequently entertained in his home in Atlanta.

 Moving to Arizona during the 90’s, he was an active supporter of Sandra Day O’Connor and the establishing of O’Connor House, to honor the tenure and policies of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

He was selected for inclusion on Who’s Who in Finance and Industry; Who’s Who in The South and Southwest; Who’s Who in American Law; Who’s Who in American Real Estate.

Mr. Peterson is survived by his wife of 45 years, Barbara, and is the father of two children, James Chandler Peterson, Jr., and Thaxton T. Peterson (Sara), both of Phoenix, Arizona, and his adopted daughter, Miriam Peterson Antolik, also of Phoenix.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Sydney Peterson, 14; Thaxton Peterson II, 11; Sawyer Peterson, 9 and Scotland Peterson, 7, all of Phoenix Arizona.

His grandchildren Jason, 41, and Sarah Peterson, 37, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Phoenix, AZ respectively.
 

 Also, Jordan Rachael Antolik, 21, John Caleb Antolik, 17 and Abigail Antolik, 15, of Phoenix, Arizona.

In support of many Church and Missions, he was an early Founder-Sponsor of Campus Crusade for Christ and “The Jesus Project” (Film); and Crusades in Africa, Mexico, and U.S.  As a missionary, he traveled though China, Russia throughout Europe and many other countries.  

In lieu of flowers and gifts, friends may donate to the Atlanta Humane Society, Atlanta, Georgia. 

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