Joseph Chisolm, Sr passed away Tuesday, September 10th, 2018. Joseph, also known as "Joe" and "Pops", was born June 25, 1933 in Greenpond, South Carolina. He was a son of the late Freddy and Bessie Gibbs Chisolm.
He received his early education at Greenspond Elementary School. Joe worked on farms to help support his family in his youth. He also attended Walterboro High School. He would later move to Aiken and work at DuPont. Shortly after moving to Aiken, he was drafted into the United States Army and served as a dedicated soldier until receiving an honorable discharge in 1955. He then moved to Brooklyn, NY where he attended night school to obtain his High School diploma. Upon receiving his diploma, he went on to attend Manhattan Medical Tech School and graduated as a medical technologist.
Joe met and fell in love with Henrietta Boyd. He would marry Henrietta and to this union, there was born three children: Joeanne, Joseph and June. Joseph would later birth a fourth child, Demetrius Hood, through a union with Teresa Hood. Joe would always put the Lord first in all that he did. He would become a member of Glover Memorial Baptist Church and later became a deacon in the church.
Joseph worked as a medical technologist at Queens General Hospital, Maimonides and Brooklyn Jewish Hospital. While working at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, he became a delegate for the local 1199 union to protect the rights of employees. Joseph became heavily involved in fighting for the rights of all people. He supported and marched with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Joseph would even take a bus load of church members and employees to march with Dr. King to protect and gain civil rights.
After working for 16 years at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, he joined the staff of the 1199 union as an organizer in 1986. Moving up the ladder of success, he later became vice president of the union and served for three years until he became the executive vice president where he served for six years until his retirement.
Joseph moved to Camden, South Carolina in 2004 to be closer to family. He would make Edwards Chapel A.M.E. his church home. Joseph enjoyed the fellowship at Edwards Chapel and was a loyal member of the congregation. He enjoyed worshiping his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
Those left to cherish his lasting memories are his four children, Joeanne Chisolm of Camden, SC, Joseph Chisolm, Jr (Tamara) of Camden, SC, June Turner of Camden, SC and Demetrius Hood of Arlington, TX; a special "son", Theodore Marsh of Charlotte, NC; 12 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; sister, Victoria Nix of Beaufort, SC; brother, Eugene Chisolm (Wilma) of Lake Placid, FL; special friend, Yvette Figuroa of Brooklyn, NY; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and close associates.
He was preceded in death by siblings, Annabel Chisolm Saunders, Janie Chisolm Brown, Arthur Gibbs, Ulysses Campbell, George Chisolm, Jr, Eddie Chisolm, Thaddeus Chisolm, Ophelia Chisolm Brown, Bernice Chisolm, Louise Chisolm Webb, Helen Chisolm, and Addie Chisolm Capers.