Dr. Weems Rufus Pennington Sr.

LINCOLTNON, Ga. - Weems Rufus Pennington, Sr., 89, beloved Lincoln County physician, died Wednesday, June 27, at Wills Memorial Hospital, Washington, Ga., after a long illness. Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. at the Lincolnton United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dave Hinson officiating. Interment will follow in the Lincolnton City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dr. Weems R. Pennington, Jr.; Don Pennington; Daniel McMillian; Dr.Weems R. Pennington III; Carey Pennington; and Bob Parks. Honorary pallbearers will be Murray Norman, Albert "Buddy" Radford, Thomas "Sting" Dawkins, Charles Estes, John Hawkins, Ben Ross, and Thomas Bunch. Dr. Pennington was born October 31, 1917, in Matthews, Georgia, the son of Corinne Matthews Pennington and Luther Thomas Pennington. A graduate of the University of Georgia and life-long Bulldog fan, the young Weems "Pee Wee" Pennington was a member of the UGA track team running alongside the legendary Spec Towns, 1936 Olympic Gold Medal Winner. Pennington received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, then served his internship at Macon General Hospital where he met the love of his life, a nurse named Margaret Grace Cannon. The two were married in the summer of 1942 in Spartanburg, S.C. Nicknamed "Doc Penny" by his comrades, Dr. Pennington served his country during World War II as a flight surgeon in the Army Air Corps, stationed in Hawaii. He and Margaret would later name their first daughter "Penny" in memory of his fellow soldiers. In the summer of 1946 Dr. and Mrs. Weems Pennington arrived in Lincolnton "looking to purchase a car," family members said, and ended up practicing family medicine there together, for 42 years. In addition to his medical practice Dr. Pennington was an active member of a number of civic organizations and served on several community service and medical boards. "Doc was probably the best diagnostician in the entire southeast," a co-worker said. "If Dr. Pennington said you had it, then you could bet on itÉthat's exactly what you had. His attention to detail and his insatiable thirst for knowledge placed him head and shoulders above any other physician anywhere in Georgia." "He was one of those doctors who just never stopped doctoring," added a friend. "He made house calls at all hours of the day and night and like many small town doctors back then, was sometimes paid with fresh garden vegetables or, when times were tough, maybe not at all." In 1946 the population of Lincolnton was about 5,000. In 1988 when Dr.Pennington retired the number of Lincoln County citizens had exceeded 8,000 and the good doctor had delivered well over 3,000 of them. "That's a lot of babies!" said Walter Baran, author of an impressive article about Dr. Pennington that appeared in the May 27, 1986 edition of Star magazine. Lincoln County expressed its appreciation to Dr. and Mrs. Pennington by designating Saturday, May 10, 1986, as "Weems Pennington Day." A parade in his honor featured over 400 of "Doc's Babies" who came home from California, Florida, and as far away as Canada, to honor the special man who brought them all into the world. Tuesday Dr. Pennington's daughter had this to say about her father: "Daddy loved anything he could analyze and learn more about; he loved ham radios; fishing; flying; and he dearly loved his family." Survivors include his faithful wife and helpmate of 65 years, Margaret C. Pennington, Lincolnton; a son, Weems R. Pennington, Jr., M.D. and his wife Carol; a daughter, Peggy P. McMillian and her husband Daniel, all of Augusta; grandchildren Don Pennington and wife Cherlyn; Weems Pennington, III, and wife Adair; Carey Pennington and wife Laura, and Jeff, Allison, and Mark McMillian. Great-grandchildren Weems Pennington, IV; Cardy Pennington, Maggie Pennington, and Perrin Pennington. Dr. Pennington was preceded in death by a daughter, Penny Pennington. If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45245-0301, Attn: Gift Processing. Arrangements are in the care of Rees Funeral Home, 195 Peachtree St., Lincolnton, GA, (706)359-3222. Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com