Dr. Darrell L. Henderson

Dr. Darrell Lee Henderson, 89, of Lafayette, Louisiana, passed away on June 10, 2025. A pioneering plastic surgeon, decorated Navy officer, aviator, and equestrian competitor, Dr. Henderson lived a life defined by precision, intellect, and purpose.

Born in Selmer, Tennessee, to Roy Wilson and Annie Lee Henderson (Beadle), he completed his undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University in just three years. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee in 1959, then studied under Dr. Mills, a trailblazer in plastic surgery, and completed a prestigious fellowship with Dr. William Frackleton in Milwaukee-a founding figure in the field of hand surgery. He completed his plastic surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic, where he developed a specialty in complex hand and wrist reconstruction.

Dr. Henderson was certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 1969 and relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he practiced for over five decades. In 1972, he co-founded Fair Oaks Plaza and Surgery Center with Dr. Kirby Guidry-Louisiana's first outpatient surgical hospital-which helped reshape the future of surgical care in the state.

Throughout his career, Dr. Henderson performed a wide range of procedures, including congenital and maxillofacial reconstruction, microvascular repairs, and cosmetic surgery. In 1976, he became one of the first U.S. surgeons to use carbon dioxide and argon lasers in burn care, pioneering techniques that significantly improved recovery for patients with severe skin injuries. He lectured extensively in the U.S. and abroad, including in Australia, Poland, and the Soviet Union, where he was one of only twelve U.S. surgeons invited to teach advanced surgical methods during a rare Cold War exchange.

While still in medical training, Dr. Henderson was drafted into the U.S. Navy. As a Lieutenant Commander at Norfolk Naval Base, he treated servicemembers returning from Vietnam with some of the most devastating injuries of the war, including extensive napalm-related trauma.

Over the course of his career, he authored scholarly articles and contributed to surgical textbooks. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American College of Forensic Examiners. As a medical expert witness, he was widely respected for his clarity, fairness, and exacting standards.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Henderson led a life of energy and exploration. A licensed commercial pilot, he trained at Pan Am's flight school and flew both a Merlin turboprop and a Citation jet before retiring from aviation in his mid-50s. He then turned his focus to competitive carriage driving, founding Willow Oaks Equestrian and competing nationally. He was once long-listed to represent the U.S. in international competition.

He had a deep love for animals, especially his dogs, and found great joy in their companionship. His humor was dry, his standards high, and his presence unforgettable.

He is survived by his wife, Toye; his children, Deborah (Don) Wright, Daniel (Sarah) Henderson, Hailey (Christian) Rogge, and Will (DeAnna) Henderson; grandchildren, Robert (Holly) Owens, Chandra Jury, Tristan (Siren) Henderson, Sam, David, Hans, Thomas Mouton Jr., and Addison Brannon; and great-grandchildren, Connor, Carson, and Silas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved son, Darrell "Dee" Henderson II (Lisette).

To his patients, he offered healing hands. To his peers, mentorship and rigor. And to his loved ones, the quiet loyalty of a man who pursued excellence not for applause, but because he could not imagine doing less.

Dr. Henderson's legacy lies not only in what he built, but in the unwavering standard he set.