Clifford Garland Gaddy

Clifford Garland Gaddy, M.D., 93, died of natural causes on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at his home. His death follows by only a few months that of his much loved wife of 71 years and best friend, Inez Chapman Gaddy. He was born January 8, 1924, in Lake View, South Carolina, a son of Finn Duncan and Orilla Lupo Gaddy. He attended Lake View High School, Wingate Junior College, and Wake Forest College. Following military service in World War II, he graduated in 1947 from Wake Forest's Bowman Gray School of Medicine, where he then did a year of cardiovascular research in the Department of Physiology. He completed his internship, residency, and fellowship in cardiology at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, Va., after which he became an instructor in the Department of Medicine. In 1952, he entered a clinical practice in internal medicine and cardiology in Danville, Va., which he continued until his retirement in 1999. He was a member of the American Society of Internal Medicine and served on the board of directors of the Virginia State Society of Internal Medicine. He was a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the Virginia State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Cardiology. He also served as president of the Memorial Hospital Medical Staff of Danville and president of the Danville-Pittsylvania County Medical Society. Active in the city's civic and religious life, he received the Junior Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Young Citizen award only a few years after his arrival in Danville. He was a longtime member of the Danville Rotary Club, where he served in numerous capacities, including the office of president, and was honored as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. He was a dedicated member and active lay leader of the First Baptist Church for over half a century, with service ranging from Sunday school teacher to chairman of the Board of Deacons. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his four brothers, Sidney, Maston, Duncan, and Aaron, and a sister, Meta. He is survived by his four sons, Clifford Garland Jr., Charles Stephen, Gary Douglas, and Robert Lawrence Gaddy, two daughters, Elizabeth Ann Gaddy Witman and Janet Marie Gaddy; twenty grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. The Memorial/Celebration of Life service for Dr. Clifford G. Gaddy will be at First Baptist Church in Danville, Va., on Sunday, July 23, 2017, at 2 p.m. with the Reverend John Carroll officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. at First Baptist in the Heritage Room before the service. More info available at www.townesfuneralhome.com.