Phoebe G. Chandler &
The Martin L. King Breakfast Committee

Phoebe was born to parents Charles E. and Mabel Brazier Gray and is the oldest of five children. Phoebe has two brothers, Charles and William and two sisters, Dorothy and Maureen. Phoebe and her family lived in New Haven in the Elm Haven Projects off of Dixwell Avenue near Yale University. The Elm Haven Project was the first housing project in the country under President Franklin D. Roosevelt after the great depression. The Elm Haven Projects were built for people with low income and it did not matter their color, Black or White.
Phoebe graduated from Hillhouse High School and after graduation attended Quinnipiac College when the college was located on Whitney Avenue and College Street. At that time Quinnipiac was a Business College and Phoebe studied Secretarial Science. Phoebe continued her professional development and training in banking while employed by Shawmut Bank, now known as Bank of America. Until she retired, Phoebe worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Credit and Collection Department of the bank.
In December 1955, Phoebe came to Branford as a bride when she married the “love of her life”, Joseph D. Chandler while he was in the United States Army. From their marriage they had two lovely children, Joe and Beth. Beth gave Phoebe and Joseph two wonderful and adorable grandchildren, Elias and Cora.
Phoebe co-chaired the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee with Mrs. Mary Ann Pellegrino. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast began at Saint Stephen’s A.M.E. Zion Church in 1985, as a Third Sunday Breakfast “all you can eat” program under the direction of the late Robert L. Burns and Mr. Collin Rouse. When the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday became a National celebration, the Christian Education Department at Saint Stephen’s developed a service and luncheon at the church to recognize the work, achievements and contribution that Dr. King made to the country. A few years later, Reverend Charles Woody brought the idea to the then known “Branford Clergy.” On Monday morning a breakfast was held at Saint Therese Roman Catholic Church, located on Leetes Island Road, as a final part of the tribute to Dr. King. The committee works to include students in the breakfast. The Branford High School Music Makers have been a much appreciated and anticipated part of the day. Students have also helped as servers, assistants, readers and interpreters of MLK’s words. The breakfast event has grown so large that it is now held at Branford High School. Phoebe has said, “I enjoy working with the committee on the Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast because the money that is raised at the breakfast is donated to the Elder Fuel program, to the Branford Food Pantry and other Branford Citizens in need.”
As an active member of the Branford Community, Phoebe also volunteered and was a member of the VNA Homemakers Board, co-chaired the Branford Mother’s “March of Dimes”, and for many years was a Literacy Volunteer to help with reading for elementary children in the Branford School System.
Every year the Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee provides the platform for a guest speaker who informs and motivates those in attendance to think about the many ways various groups have daily overcome prejudices and obstacles to equality.
Phoebe graduated from Hillhouse High School and after graduation attended Quinnipiac College when the college was located on Whitney Avenue and College Street. At that time Quinnipiac was a Business College and Phoebe studied Secretarial Science. Phoebe continued her professional development and training in banking while employed by Shawmut Bank, now known as Bank of America. Until she retired, Phoebe worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Credit and Collection Department of the bank.
In December 1955, Phoebe came to Branford as a bride when she married the “love of her life”, Joseph D. Chandler while he was in the United States Army. From their marriage they had two lovely children, Joe and Beth. Beth gave Phoebe and Joseph two wonderful and adorable grandchildren, Elias and Cora.
Phoebe co-chaired the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee with Mrs. Mary Ann Pellegrino. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast began at Saint Stephen’s A.M.E. Zion Church in 1985, as a Third Sunday Breakfast “all you can eat” program under the direction of the late Robert L. Burns and Mr. Collin Rouse. When the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday became a National celebration, the Christian Education Department at Saint Stephen’s developed a service and luncheon at the church to recognize the work, achievements and contribution that Dr. King made to the country. A few years later, Reverend Charles Woody brought the idea to the then known “Branford Clergy.” On Monday morning a breakfast was held at Saint Therese Roman Catholic Church, located on Leetes Island Road, as a final part of the tribute to Dr. King. The committee works to include students in the breakfast. The Branford High School Music Makers have been a much appreciated and anticipated part of the day. Students have also helped as servers, assistants, readers and interpreters of MLK’s words. The breakfast event has grown so large that it is now held at Branford High School. Phoebe has said, “I enjoy working with the committee on the Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast because the money that is raised at the breakfast is donated to the Elder Fuel program, to the Branford Food Pantry and other Branford Citizens in need.”
As an active member of the Branford Community, Phoebe also volunteered and was a member of the VNA Homemakers Board, co-chaired the Branford Mother’s “March of Dimes”, and for many years was a Literacy Volunteer to help with reading for elementary children in the Branford School System.
Every year the Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee provides the platform for a guest speaker who informs and motivates those in attendance to think about the many ways various groups have daily overcome prejudices and obstacles to equality.
Letters of Nomination
For 33 years the MLK Breakfast Committee has organized an event that has educated the Branford community about the need to treat every person equally. Every year they have a guest speaker that informs and motivates those in attendance to think about the many ways that various groups have to daily overcome prejudices and obstacles to equality. Over the years this has grown from a small group of attendances to the overflow crowds that now attend. Every year those that attend are uplifted by the message and the positive feeling you are left with. The diversity of those in attendance is always impressive and the morning always ends with the hundreds in attendance holding hands singing "We Shall Overcome" Phoebe Chandler and Peter Stolzman have been involved from the beginning and could provide additional information.
The Martin Luther King breakfast was begun at St. Stephens Church and was quickly adopted by the Branford Council of Churches. It has since evolved into an independent organization. Citizens and local businesses are asked for sponsorships to support the Breakfast and funds generated from the breakfast are donated to the Elder Fuel Assistance program and to the Branford Food Pantry. The committee is made up of volunteers from the greater Branford community. Given the religious beginnings of the breakfast, the members tend to come from various churches and religious perspectives. There are Catholics, various Protestant churches and others. This has led to different viewpoints learning about each other and establishing a common ground. The speakers at the MLK breakfast have ranged across a wide spectrum, there have been media people, state and local politicians, beauty queens, educators, sports people, males, females, etc. Each year the committee chooses a theme based on a quote from MLK and the speakers apply it in their message. The committee also works to include students in the breakfast. Branford High School’s Music Makers have been a much appreciated and anticipated part of the day. Students have also helped as servers, assistants, readers and interpreters of MLK's words. All of these bring the message of King to the forefront each year as the breakfast has become a major Branford event. King’s messages of equality, respect, non-violence, and speaking out, for and with, those who are oppressed, are remembered or learned by all those in attendance. For 33 years, the multiracial nature of the committee and the attendees of the breakfast, have provided a common meeting ground for all. It has become an event where all are present and welcome. The respect and love generated by the event is a refreshing change from the separation and isolation within the larger world.