Robert Burice Lisenby

Robert Burice Lisenby was born on March 30, 1930 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the second son born to Coyt and Katherine Lisenby. Shortly after Bob was born, the family moved back to Chesterfield, South Carolina where all of their extended family was located. At his death, Bob had two surviving sisters, Muriel and Betty. His parents and brother, Tom, preceded him in death. Bob was the senior class president of his 1948 Chesterfield High School graduating class. Shortly after graduating, he joined the Army where his brother Tom was already serving. Bob became a Sergeant and enjoyed the opportunity to serve as the Mess Sergeant who helped prepare the fresh meals for his comrades serving with him in Germany during the Korean conflict.

The first in his entire family to attend college, Bob enrolled at Clemson in 1952 on the G.I. Bill and graduated 4 years later in 1956 with a Bachelors degree in Animal Husbandry. During his time at Clemson, he met LaTrelle Griffis Bruce who was widowed with a 4 year old daughter, Donna. LaTrelle was working at the Clemson House and Bob was a frequent visitor. As a result, they married and had a son, Marc, who was born February of 1956 which is the year that Bob graduated from Clemson. Bob accepted a position with Swift and Company and he moved his new family to Hallstead, Pennsylvania. In 1961, he was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia and the family moved into a newly built home in Tucker, Georgia. In November of 1961, Tina Lisenby was born to complete the family. Three years later, Bob and LaTrelle started a small business and began providing cleaning services to commercial businesses around the Atlanta area. That business, Master Building Services, continues to serve the commercial, medical and educational industries near Atlanta and is run by his son, Marc Lisenby. Bob retired in 1999 and enjoyed his small farm in Royston, Georgia until he passed away on April 6, 2004. Bob was an IPTAY supporter since 1956 and saw his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Dale Chandler, graduate from Clemson in 1974. Then, in 2003, their son and Bob’s grandson, Jake Chandler, graduated from the same University Bob had attended almost 50 years earlier.

Bob was laid to rest near his childhood home in Chesterfield, South Carolina and his grave marker bears the inscription “Clemson Class of 1956”. He was a member of Royston First Methodist Church and is lovingly remembered by his family and many friends. He embodied true Tiger spirit and carried his love for Clemson with him wherever he went.