Anisa Saad Keisler passed away on March 24, 2023 surrounded by family. She was 83 years old. Anisa was born in Madras, India, then emigrated to Pakistan as a child. She helped raise her five younger siblings after her mother died at a young age. Anisa earned her master’s degree in microbiology from the University of Karachi, Pakistan, then came to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill she met her future husband, Sam Keisler, from Claremont, N.C. Sam and Anisa married in August 1966 and went on to live in New Orleans, Houston, and Hampton, Va. They built their home together in Gloucester, Va., from 1977-1981 and had lived there ever since. Anisa was a published researcher of microbiology and worked in laboratories researching infectious diseases.

Anisa had many talents including cooking, sewing, machine knitting, doll making, gardening, painting, and jewelry making. She followed global news and politics. However, what brought Anisa the most joy was to be with her family, whom she valued above all else. She loved to have family with her and cooked meals for every family gathering. Anisa was loving, generous, humble, devoted, courageous, gracious, intelligent, creative, and imaginative. She was religious and set a strong example for others.

Anisa was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Samuel Ray Keisler; her parents, Major Mohamed Saiuddin Saad and Tahira Begum; stepmother, Suraya Begum; aunt, Zubaida Begum; stepsister, Neelofar Saleem; half-sister, Saadia Saad, and granddaughter, Amira Kuhl. Anisa is survived by her children, Shafi Keisler (Kelly Dickens), Shahana Garner (Kevin Garner), Marc Keisler, Aysha Keisler (David Kuhl), and Sara Keisler; granddaughters, Athena Keisler, Natasha Keisler, and Elliana Kuhl; siblings, Sajida Haq, Bahadur Saad, Khalid Saad, Ahad Saad, and Tariq Saad, and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Bennett Funeral Home and the Islamic Center of Virginia conducted the funeral and burial on March 28 in Richmond, Virginia. Anisa was buried next to Sam at Riverview Cemetery. Donations in Anisa’s memory may be made in her name to the Islamic Center of Virginia, https://icva.info/donate.