May 14, 2021
May 14, 2021
Bob, you'll be always in our hearts.
This is the Family remembrance site. Please contribute stories, photos, or videos here to help us keep his memory alive.
__________________________________________________________________________
Robert Thomas Mitchem, Jr., 86, known to everyone as Bob or Mitch, passed away on May 14, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate charitable donations to the groups below:
Fisk University: https://connect.fisk.edu/donate
Atlanta Community Food Bank: https://tinyurl.com/donate-Atlanta-Food-Bank
__________________________________________________________________________
Robert Thomas Mitchem, Jr., 86, known to everyone as Bob or Mitch, passed away on May 14, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate charitable donations to the groups below:
Fisk University: https://connect.fisk.edu/donate
Atlanta Community Food Bank: https://tinyurl.com/donate-Atlanta-Food-Bank
Tributes
Leave a tribute
June 20, 2020
June 20, 2020
Dear Bob,
It was great to have met you, and even better, to have had the pleasure of spending time with you. Thanks for everything you and Sookie have done for us, we only have good things to say about you. We'll always love you, and you will always be remembered. Your catchy laugh, forever in our hearts. Rest in peace.
Love, Sabrina, Tom and Rafaela.
It was great to have met you, and even better, to have had the pleasure of spending time with you. Thanks for everything you and Sookie have done for us, we only have good things to say about you. We'll always love you, and you will always be remembered. Your catchy laugh, forever in our hearts. Rest in peace.
Love, Sabrina, Tom and Rafaela.
May 27, 2020
May 27, 2020
Rest in peace, Uncle Bob. I'm sure you will miss my galbi and I will miss your gentle smile...
May 26, 2020
May 26, 2020
U.B. Thank you so much for all of your Selfless giving, Your endless pouring into me. I choose to cherish these memories and celebrate everything you shared with me and my siblings and not hold on to the sorrow of loss.
GOD has blessed us all with you and we are all better because of your endless sharing of yourself.
GOD has blessed us all with you and we are all better because of your endless sharing of yourself.
May 24, 2020
May 24, 2020
Uncle Mitchem as we knew him was my dad, James “Piggy” Robinson’s best friend. I have know Uncle Mitchem my entire life and remember many visits to see him. He was always smiling, kind, generous, caring and quick to laugh. I remember when I got married and Uncle Mitchem had just been diagnosed with cancer that my dad was so sad at the thought of losing his best friend. In fact, my dad died first. When my dad was very sick and on hospice, Uncle Mitchem came and sat with us every day of his last week, entertaining us with stores of their Fisk days when my dad was a football star and Uncle Mitchem would report on the games for the college paper. Uncle Mitchem told of my dad leaping up to grab a football out of the sky with his large hands and how the whole crowd would leap to their feet roaring support and how there would be a long line of girls waiting to greet him afterward. It meant so much to us that he was there every day telling us stories and helping us get through those difficult days and I know my dad knew he was there.. He was such a good friend to my dad and I’m so thankful for him- a true friend who was there all the way through until the end. I only hope they are together again, laughing and smiling. Love to Sooki and all the family during this time. Please know how much he was loved.
May 23, 2020
May 23, 2020
I first met Bob Mitchem in 1976. I was appointed IBM Office Products Branch Manager in Cleveland Ohio and I worked for Bob, who was based in Cincinnati Ohio. He would visit our office often and my wife loved having him to dinner. He was a lonely bachelor and Mary knew how to make him feel at home. Of course it also helped my career. I again met with Bob when he was in Texas and I got to meet his bride Sookie. Later we both moved to Atlanta and our families became very close. We met Stanley and Natalie who became like family. Bob was a true friend who you could count on to give you the best advise - sometimes things you didn't want to hear. He will be sorely missed.
May 23, 2020
May 23, 2020
Rest in Peace Robert T
May 23, 2020
May 23, 2020
May God the source of hope fill you with peace by means of your faith in Him.
Leave a Tribute
Recent Tributes
May 14, 2021
May 14, 2021
Bob, you'll be always in our hearts.
June 20, 2020
June 20, 2020
Dear Bob,
It was great to have met you, and even better, to have had the pleasure of spending time with you. Thanks for everything you and Sookie have done for us, we only have good things to say about you. We'll always love you, and you will always be remembered. Your catchy laugh, forever in our hearts. Rest in peace.
Love, Sabrina, Tom and Rafaela.
It was great to have met you, and even better, to have had the pleasure of spending time with you. Thanks for everything you and Sookie have done for us, we only have good things to say about you. We'll always love you, and you will always be remembered. Your catchy laugh, forever in our hearts. Rest in peace.
Love, Sabrina, Tom and Rafaela.
May 27, 2020
May 27, 2020
Rest in peace, Uncle Bob. I'm sure you will miss my galbi and I will miss your gentle smile...
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Bob Mitchem Memorial Service May 23, 2020-recorded
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Dad's Eulogy written and recorded by Melanie Mitchem
Bob on the phone with kids, February 2020
Rus and Sky come to visit in 2019
Bob and Meadow, 2017
Park Family Reunion, 2016
The happy couple, January 2016
First Ballet Recital, May 2015
First Ballet Recital, May 2015
Recent stories
Meadow Mitchem Story as read during the Memorial Service
May 23, 2020
by Stan Mitchem
My grandpa was an awesome
man. He was very creative as well. He was an awesome man and a great grandpa. I
know for a fact that he fought very hard through cancer and so I know that he
was a warrior. He was the best grandpa a girl could ever have and I am saying
that because he was awesome.
When my grandpa was sick, he fought through it. And even though he was fighting cancer from before my mom and dad met, he had a good long life. My grandpa was very sweet. We can all agree on that. I really miss him and I always will. I mean, he was very special to me. Whenever I felt in the dumps, he would help me get better.
When my grandpa was sick, he fought through it. And even though he was fighting cancer from before my mom and dad met, he had a good long life. My grandpa was very sweet. We can all agree on that. I really miss him and I always will. I mean, he was very special to me. Whenever I felt in the dumps, he would help me get better.
Lois Douglas story as spoken during the Memorial Service
May 28, 2020
by Stan Mitchem
A TRIBUTE/ TO Bob Mitchem May 2020 – Lois Douglas
-Dick Douglas and Bob Mitchem:Dick’s first IBM class was as a student in Bob’s IBM Sales Class: in the 60’s. Bob taught and Dick revered!
Phil & Mary Kemp had a Christmas party, 35 yrs ago. We were all excited about Bob moving to Atlanta; this would be the first time I would meet Bob Mitchem and Sookie.We met:
Then, Sookie- Bob- Dick- Lois- committee went everywhere!
.Dinners,
.BBQs,
.Business Mtgs,
.Games,
.Movies
Event: Game day at the Douglases, “Name That tune”…Old Negro Spiritual…Team: Dick, Sookie, and Tinka Green—Bob razzed Dick about one black man unable to carry a team to victory …Bob said “slaves would have done better – you should go back to school!I’m ashamed of you!”
Event: Another Game day at the Douglases: I made homemade rolls and apple cobbler…Bob dipped his bread in the cobbler, then everybody followed suit.Bob bragged, “Nobody recognizes good food anymore—At this age and stage, I’m still teaching!”
Bob & Sookie moved to Florida a few years later.Dick and I visited them in their home where they purchased a huge house—with
-An infinity pool,
-Included ALL the model- home furniture,
-Restaurants all around,
-Lovely!
-Feb 2009, and then there were 3
Bob & Sookie & Lois
-STILL Social; More Food; Deep Culture Conversation.
-Park Family Reunion, 2016, I was inducted into Sookie’s Korean family…One night, a social was held at my house in Dunwoody. Because I’m restricted to food prep & cleanup detail, I needed some African-American reinforcements, so I invited William and
Emily Stanley—people we had traveled with all over the world.William set us up!He brought giant speakers and lots of relevant music in the sunroom.Bob danced, solo, like a Greek (Opa!), bragged the unknown, circular dance he performed was the Merengue , and he smiled throughout!Sookie’s eyes followed him as he sneaked a couple drinks, especially when he thought Sookie didn’t see!...Always a delight!
Bob’s Illness returned, 2019. Back to the drawing board!
-Hospital visitations: Bob would ask Sookie to tip the nurses because he was/always the maître d, with the charm of a Concierge on-call.He loved leading the call to “Play!”
-Every Tuesday, the 3 of us carried on: Sookie cooked good food, we watched Netflix/Amazon movies, and laughed through our irreverent conversation.
April 2020-Tuesday gatherings ended early due to Covid-19
May 2020-Everyday loss ushered in the new normal
Historic Birthday remembrance--
May 14, 2013 – There was a birthday party for Sookie at my house.
Bob demanded he secretly buy something for Sookie.I purchased the gift, Bob adapted these words from the song, “People”:
"Sookie…all of us love Sookie,
We’re the luckiest people in the world
We’re family, needing other family
And yet letting our grown-up pride
Hide all her love inside
Acting more like Meadow, than Meadow*…
Family—is very special people
We’re the luckiest people in the world
With one Sookie—one very special Sookie,
We love her deep in our souls
Once we were half, now we’re whole,
We still hunger and thirst—
Because we’re a family who loves Sookie
All of us love Sookie:
We’re the luckiest people in the world!"
-Dick Douglas and Bob Mitchem:Dick’s first IBM class was as a student in Bob’s IBM Sales Class: in the 60’s. Bob taught and Dick revered!
Phil & Mary Kemp had a Christmas party, 35 yrs ago. We were all excited about Bob moving to Atlanta; this would be the first time I would meet Bob Mitchem and Sookie.We met:
Then, Sookie- Bob- Dick- Lois- committee went everywhere!
.Dinners,
.BBQs,
.Business Mtgs,
.Games,
.Movies
Event: Game day at the Douglases, “Name That tune”…Old Negro Spiritual…Team: Dick, Sookie, and Tinka Green—Bob razzed Dick about one black man unable to carry a team to victory …Bob said “slaves would have done better – you should go back to school!I’m ashamed of you!”
Event: Another Game day at the Douglases: I made homemade rolls and apple cobbler…Bob dipped his bread in the cobbler, then everybody followed suit.Bob bragged, “Nobody recognizes good food anymore—At this age and stage, I’m still teaching!”
Bob & Sookie moved to Florida a few years later.Dick and I visited them in their home where they purchased a huge house—with
-An infinity pool,
-Included ALL the model- home furniture,
-Restaurants all around,
-Lovely!
-Feb 2009, and then there were 3
Bob & Sookie & Lois
-STILL Social; More Food; Deep Culture Conversation.
-Park Family Reunion, 2016, I was inducted into Sookie’s Korean family…One night, a social was held at my house in Dunwoody. Because I’m restricted to food prep & cleanup detail, I needed some African-American reinforcements, so I invited William and
Emily Stanley—people we had traveled with all over the world.William set us up!He brought giant speakers and lots of relevant music in the sunroom.Bob danced, solo, like a Greek (Opa!), bragged the unknown, circular dance he performed was the Merengue , and he smiled throughout!Sookie’s eyes followed him as he sneaked a couple drinks, especially when he thought Sookie didn’t see!...Always a delight!
Bob’s Illness returned, 2019. Back to the drawing board!
-Hospital visitations: Bob would ask Sookie to tip the nurses because he was/always the maître d, with the charm of a Concierge on-call.He loved leading the call to “Play!”
-Every Tuesday, the 3 of us carried on: Sookie cooked good food, we watched Netflix/Amazon movies, and laughed through our irreverent conversation.
April 2020-Tuesday gatherings ended early due to Covid-19
May 2020-Everyday loss ushered in the new normal
Historic Birthday remembrance--
May 14, 2013 – There was a birthday party for Sookie at my house.
Bob demanded he secretly buy something for Sookie.I purchased the gift, Bob adapted these words from the song, “People”:
"Sookie…all of us love Sookie,
We’re the luckiest people in the world
We’re family, needing other family
And yet letting our grown-up pride
Hide all her love inside
Acting more like Meadow, than Meadow*…
Family—is very special people
We’re the luckiest people in the world
With one Sookie—one very special Sookie,
We love her deep in our souls
Once we were half, now we’re whole,
We still hunger and thirst—
Because we’re a family who loves Sookie
All of us love Sookie:
We’re the luckiest people in the world!"
Carolyn Booker Story as read during the Memorial Service
May 25, 2020
by Stan Mitchem
To Sookie, the Mitchem children, family members and friends I feel honored and blessed to have known Robert Mitchem as a fellow Fiskite, a successful Marketeer with IBM, an Entrepreneur, dedicated and loving father, husband, and a dear friend of the Booker Family.
We count Bob and family as part of our family.He was our friend, truly a blessing in our life.And while I will miss him I am comforted that he joins a band of brothers in heaven who I am sure greeted him warmly, led by Uncle Crazy Cary Booker, Dick Douglas, James “Piggy” Robinson and so many more who have made their transition.
Fifty plus years is a long time to share a friendship and Bob was one of a kind.
I have learned that each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive and it is when they meet that a new world is born. I cannot tell you how many worlds we have birthed over the years of departures and arrivals.Particularly during our IBM years or the “I’m Being Moved” years.
In our fifty plus years of friendship, when our lives collided to the same space and time we had opportunities to see changes and growth, catch up on health and happiness, share our stories of successes and failures and spend time as ole friends do “just chilling”.
True friendships are comfortable, like old shoes. Friends share feelings without judgement.Friends listen and they share laughter, wishes and cares through good times and tears.Yet you stay by each others side, through the years and through separations no matter how far they stray.Each has their life yet each is wise enough to know life is an awful ugly place to not have a friend.
So this I have learned over the years about my friend Bob, he is loyal and wise, never over bearing and always wanting the best for you.Helpful yes, comfortable, fun loving and funny at times.He means a lot to those that took the time to get to know him, never quick to give advice, solutions or cures, choosing rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, one who
in the end could tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend that cares.
May we all find comfort in knowing we have one more angle watching over us, my friend, Bob.
Please accept my heartfelt condolence, words cannot express my sadness or your feelings right now.So may God rest his soul and may our prayers enfold the Mitchem Family and guide their journeys as they began to process this loss of life, but not of love.
Sincerely,
Carolyn
We count Bob and family as part of our family.He was our friend, truly a blessing in our life.And while I will miss him I am comforted that he joins a band of brothers in heaven who I am sure greeted him warmly, led by Uncle Crazy Cary Booker, Dick Douglas, James “Piggy” Robinson and so many more who have made their transition.
Fifty plus years is a long time to share a friendship and Bob was one of a kind.
I have learned that each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive and it is when they meet that a new world is born. I cannot tell you how many worlds we have birthed over the years of departures and arrivals.Particularly during our IBM years or the “I’m Being Moved” years.
In our fifty plus years of friendship, when our lives collided to the same space and time we had opportunities to see changes and growth, catch up on health and happiness, share our stories of successes and failures and spend time as ole friends do “just chilling”.
True friendships are comfortable, like old shoes. Friends share feelings without judgement.Friends listen and they share laughter, wishes and cares through good times and tears.Yet you stay by each others side, through the years and through separations no matter how far they stray.Each has their life yet each is wise enough to know life is an awful ugly place to not have a friend.
So this I have learned over the years about my friend Bob, he is loyal and wise, never over bearing and always wanting the best for you.Helpful yes, comfortable, fun loving and funny at times.He means a lot to those that took the time to get to know him, never quick to give advice, solutions or cures, choosing rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, one who
in the end could tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend that cares.
May we all find comfort in knowing we have one more angle watching over us, my friend, Bob.
Please accept my heartfelt condolence, words cannot express my sadness or your feelings right now.So may God rest his soul and may our prayers enfold the Mitchem Family and guide their journeys as they began to process this loss of life, but not of love.
Sincerely,
Carolyn