He was born on April 19, 1933 in Walterboro, SC to Vernell Robertson. She passed away when he was only six years old and he went to live with his uncle, Benjamin Hampton Robertson, and his aunt, Myrtle Chassereau Robertson, on Von Ohsen Road in Ladson, SC. They raised him in a Christian home and taught him about hard work and the importance of family. These values served him well throughout his long and productive life of serving God and others. He was predeceased by his sister, Beverly Sue Taylor (James) of Pimlico and his brother Alan Dale Baker (Charlene) of Ladson.
When Clarence was 16 years old, together with his mother and father (Benny & Myrtle) and others from the Ladson community, they planted a new church called Deer Park Baptist Church. They met in homes and a small store front before eventually buying and clearing land to build the first small church building on University Blvd in North Charleston. He was always an active member and served in many different capacities over the years. He served on the Deacon Council for over 50 years and was honored to be awarded the title of Deacon Emeritus.
At 16, Clarence worked at a local drive-in theater where they also held dances on the weekends. He met a cute young lady there named Dolores and fell in love. They dated and wrote letters to each other over the next few years. Clarence graduated from North Charleston High School. At 18, he joined the Navy and served during the Korean War. He was stationed aboard the USS Laertes. He worked hard and reached the rank of Seaman First Class E3 in his four years of duty. Upon his Honorable Discharge, he returned home to Ladson to marry the love of his life, Dolores Jean Theiling, on September 28, 1956. They were the first couple to marry in Deer Park Church. They were together for 56 years until Dolores’ death on April 10, 2012. They had 4 children: Laurie Dobbs (Raymond) of Goose Creek, Nancy Robertson, Steven Robertson, and Sandra Millen (Bradley - deceased) all of Ladson. He had 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild: Robert Millen, Matthew Millen, Mary Herrera (Luis) of California, Giovi Robertson, and Esperanza Herrera.
Clarence loved sports and was one of the community leaders who helped start and operate the Ladson Youth Organization for many years. Land was generously donated and they worked to clear it, create playing fields, build bleachers and dugouts, and create sports programs at Tom Conley Field. He served in many different areas over the years including coach, umpire, announcer and President.
He worked for 35 years at the Charleston Naval Shipyard. He began as an apprentice and retired as a Leading General Foreman of Shop 56 (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) at 58 years old.
He was a lifelong lover of the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing any time he got the chance. He was a member of The Big Hill Hunting Club in Walterboro, SC and served as President for a few terms over the years. He enjoyed the camaraderie as much as the hunting ! He enjoyed teaching his children, grandsons, and nephew the joys of hunting and fishing. He spent his retirement years enjoying life and quietly helping others.
He was active in his grandchildrens’ lives and supported them in their many activities such as baseball, basketball, soccer, orchestra, scouts, and “things of that nature.” He volunteered at Vacation Bible School and always took his grandchildren with him to attend. He was always willing to help anyone in whatever way he could - giving rides to doctor visits, repairing a broken appliance, visiting the homebound, moving, etc. He was still “helping the elderly” when he was well into his 80’s and elderly himself. He spent 25 years volunteering and serving on the Building Committee at Deer Park Baptist Church. He could always be found there throughout the week. Some of his unofficial titles were Keeper of the Keys, Mr. Rig It, and Chief Piddler.
It was not in Clarence’s nature to sit idle. His last few years were hard when he became confined to a wheelchair and could no longer attend church. He passed the time at home with family and his sweet dog Scout and enjoyed growing vegetables in a raised bed and pots, harvesting his grapes and blueberries, and wheeling around the neighborhood.
He was a humble, hardworking Christian man who loved to tell long winded story from time to time. He loved crossword puzzles and backgammon and playing cards. He loved western movies, Gunsmoke, and Louis L’amour books. He loved eating fried fish, Frogmore Stew, and coconut cake and coconut cream pie. He liked piddling in his shop, watching the squirrels and the birds, and taking a good nap. He was loved by all who knew him and he will be missed more than he could ever have imagined.
A Visitation will be held on Monday November 21, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Carolina Memorial Funerals & Cremation, 7113 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406. The Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday November 22, 2022 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at Deer Park Baptist Church, 8875 University Blvd., North Charleston, SC 29406. The Burial will follow at 1:15pm at Carolina Memorial Gardens.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.carolinamemorial.com for the Robertson family.
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