It is with reluctance and great sadness to inform our membership on the unexpected passing of Diometra Aldridge, CERM’s Director of Corporate Management. Diometra was more than an associate at CERM, she was like a younger sister to Founders Marcus Reese and Albert Edwards, helping foster and demonstrate the vision of what CERM has become. As a strategic thought leader to the Executive and Management Committee, Diometra was a valued member of the CERM Family and an impactful servant leader in our community.
CERM is a distinguished Council for Quality Growth premier member company with Al Edwards, Founder & Managing Director of CERM being the Council’s current Board of Directors Vice-Chairman and our 2022 Chairman. The Council sends Mrs. Aldridge’s family, friends and loved ones, and the whole CERM family our condolences and prayers.
Diometra Chandler Aldridge was born on August 17, 1965, Miami, FL to William Curtiss Chandler, Jr., and Jerelene Mays Coleman. Diometra transitioned to her eternal home on Friday, June 25th.
In 1983, she graduated from George Washington Carver High School in Columbus, GA. Soon after she began her education journey at Georgia Southwestern State University. She eventually transferred to Georgia State University where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. She later received a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Troy University and her PHR Certification.
Diometra was full of life and liked trying new things. In 1991 she moved to California to explore the west coast. While there she was a very competitive contestant on the popular TV show Supermarket Sweep. She also explored her acting career participating in the production of The Bodyguard and LA Law.
She left a host of friends and returned home to Atlanta, GA to begin her career at UPS. With over 20 years of combined Administrative, Financial and Human Resource Development experience, Diometra became the Vice Chair of CERM’s Management Committee. As a member of the Executive Management team, she led the development and implementation of all administrative and financial functions, while actively fostering the organization’s culture and vision for community reinvestment to include serving as a Founding Member and Treasure of the CERM Legacy Foundation.
Serving the community was another thing Diometra excelled at and enjoyed performing community service. Diometra was an active member of American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) and she was recently named to serve on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and recently elected to serve as Vice Chair of WorkSource DeKalb’s Board of Directors after Chairing the Finance Committee.
Additionally, Diometra served as a Board Member on the Gwinnett County Water and Sewer Authority. And in 2020 and 2018, Diometra was recognized and named as one of Georgia Engineering Magazine’s Most Influential Women in additional to playing an integral role in helping CERM win the US Dept of Commerce’s Minority Construction Firm of the Year in 2020.
Diometra loved life and lived it to the fullest, she will be remembered for her big heart, warm smile, infectious laugh, and generous kind spirit. In the last months of her life, she was often enjoying fun nights with family and friends, traveling to new destinations with her son Chandler and husband Phillip, cooking for Chai (her pet) some new recipes, sharing funny stories and memories, watching movies and dancing. She never stopped giving her all to everything she participated in, and she always did her best to make sure she was winning.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William Curtiss Chandler, Jr. and Jerelene Mays Coleman; and brothers, William Carlos Chandler and Ronald Justin Coleman, all of Columbus, GA. Diometra leaves behind her devoted husband, Phillip Aldridge of Lawrenceville GA; son, Chandler Steven Frierson, of Atlanta GA; sister Shirmeka Chandler of Canton, OH; Niece Theresa Clay of Smyrna, GA; nephews, Joshua Chandler-Semedo, and Jace Lee Coleman, great nephew – Christian Alexander Clay; stepfather, Ronald Coleman of Columbus, GA; and loving aunts Evelyn Mays Abron of Columbus, GA; Sandra Mays of Columbus, GA; Christine Evans (Robert) and Beverly Herring of Decatur, GA. and uncle Herman Chandler of Atlanta, GA; Godchildren: Kendell Ford, and Kayla Forde. Diometra also leaves a host of other relatives and many special friends to cherish her loving memory.
Commendation from Governor Brian Kemp
For those wanting to celebrate Diometra’s life, a viewing will be held this Friday, July 2nd at Levett and Sons Funeral Home located at 914 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville Ga, 30046 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm.
Diometra’s homegoing service will be held on Saturday, July 3rd at New Mercies Christian Church located at 4000 Five Forks Trickum Rd. , Lilburn, GA, 30047 starting at 10:00 am with her interment immediately following the service at Green Acres Cemetery, 1485 Schatulga Road, Columbus, GA 31907.
If you would like to send flowers, please have all arrangements sent to Levitt and Sons Funeral Home at 914 Scenic Highway Lawrenceville Ga, 30046.