Chisholm, 52, chef, artist

Orlando Chisholm, beloved Lenoir Dining Hall chef, artist and friend, died Jan. 15 from a blood clot in his main artery. He was 52.

Chisholm, the son of Leroy and Dorothy Floyd, grew up in Greensboro and began working at UNC 11 years ago.

Co-workers said Chisholm was known as “Old Dog” at Lenoir. Whenever things were getting hectic, he would say “The old dog is here!” and bark a few times to let co-workers know he had everything under control.

Co-worker Jennifer Henderson said Chisholm was an integral part of the workplace environment.

“He was a cook, but he did everything. If you needed help, he could help you do other things, too,” she said.

“He was an institution around here, and it’s really weird not seeing him. They are going to have a hard time replacing him.”

Chisholm was a hard-working employee, said Ira Simon, director of food and vending services on campus.

“We’re saddened by the loss. He was a long-term employee,” he said.

“He was a very dependable, hard-working, personable gentleman.”

As a testament to his impact at the University’s food services, Chisholm’s recipes for fried chicken and pulled pork barbecue will be referred to as “Orlando’s” on menus, said Crystal Devine, Chisholm’s girlfriend and co-worker.

Devine said Chisholm was the kind of man who would do anything for those he loved.

“He’d give you the shirt off his back,” she said.

“He got a lot of people who work here now their jobs and helped a lot of them keep them.”

Rudy Walker, longtime friend and co-worker, described Chisholm as a people person.

“He was a brother, father and friend, and we’re all going to miss him,” he said.

“If you were going through something, he’d know how to put a smile on your face.”

Devine echoed Walker’s sentiment. “When you met him, it was like you knew him; he wasn’t a stranger to anybody,” she said. “He didn’t have an enemy in the world; everybody liked him.”

His mother, Dorothy Floyd, said her son served in the Army for four years and will be remembered as an all-around strong character.

“He was my first child, and growing up he was a real nice guy,” she said.

Several friends, family members and co-workers attended a memorial in Chisholm’s hometown last week, braving the winter storm to come from Chapel Hill.

Chisholm is survived by his son, Orlando Chisholm Jr., parents Leroy and Dorothy Floyd, three brothers and two sisters.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.