Clem Melton Doxey

Clem Melton Doxey, Jr. peacefully departed this earth and went to be with the Lord on January 24, 2025. He was surrounded by his son and two daughters and wife Carolyn of 64 years.

Clem grew up in Natchitoches, Louisiana where he was born on July 2, 1936. During these years, he learned to work hard, enjoy his friends, and stay true to a strong moral compass. He graduated from Natchitoches High School in 1954 while lettering in four sports. He matriculated into Louisiana State University where he majored in chemistry. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity serving as an officer and pledge trainer. While at LSU, Clem met his future wife, Carolyn Poynter Allen.

After graduating from LSU, Clem attended LSU medical school followed by a one-year internship in Oakland, California. For the next 3 years, he served as a naval flight surgeon for the First Marine Brigade in the Pacific theater including Hawaii, Japan, and Vietnam. After his Naval service, the family returned to New Orleans, Louisiana for a dermatology residency.

Moving with his wife and three children in 1970 to Marietta, Georgia, Clem founded Marietta Dermatology which grew to be the largest dermatology practice in the state of Georgia. From day one of opening his practice, Clem's motto was "Service above Self", always emphasizing his patients first. To quote one of his employees "he influenced everyone who worked with him with the beautiful example he set on how to love on a community." While growing his practice, Clem served for many years as a clinical professor at Emory University Hospital, as the Chief of Staff at Kennestone Hospital in 1986, and as President of the North American Clinical Dermatological Society (NACDS). Their many trips visiting interesting dermatological sites with NACDS took Clem and Carolyn all over the world and extended his broad knowledge for the sake of his practice. Clem worked closely with Senator Johnny Isakson to pass legislation in Georgia that improved public access to dermatological care, particularly for melanoma treatment. Clem practiced medicine into his 77th year and retired in 2013. Of his many accolades, he received The Georgia Dermatology Physician Assistant Supervising Physician of the Year Award. Outside of his dermatological accomplishments, Clem was very involved in his community. He served as President of Marietta Rotary Club and with Carolyn hosted Danish Rotary exchange student, Eva Berneke, for a year. He was a founding board member of Charter Bank of Marietta. He was active at First Presbyterian Church in Marietta, where he served as a deacon, later as an elder, and taught Sunday School for young married couples.

Clem was an outstanding athlete who excelled at tennis and golf. His love of people and sports led to the development of deep friendships over the years. These friendships were manifested on their popular home tennis court, on the courts at Pawleys Island, South Carolina, fishing in the mountains near Tickanetley, Georgia and golf weekends at their mountain home in Big Canoe, Georgia. Throughout his life, Clem was encouraged and supported by his devoted wife, Carolyn Doxey, whom he loved dearly. She was the glue to their growing family through all his endeavors, challenges and accomplishments.

Clem had a sincere way of connecting with people. This was not something that he worked on or tried to teach; this was simply the essence of who he was. He approached each person who crossed his path with a warm heart, a welcoming smile, and an outreached hand. His sincerity quickly inspired trust from others, from his close family to remote acquaintances. His genuineness was passed down to his children and grandchildren in varying degrees but greatly appreciated by all the family. His children and grandchildren recognized its wonder and consciously tried to bring that part of him more into their own lives. At every large family dinner, Clem would stand and offer a meaningful toast. He always shared an important family message for that moment, but what he mostly communicated was: "Do this, stand up, be human, acknowledge others, love your family." Thank you, Dad, for teaching us so much.

Clem was very proud of his three children and their families. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, his children Melton Doxey (Bianca), Melanie Speed (Todd), and Cappy Gratwick (Jay), his grandchildren Farah Doxey (Austin Curtis), Cameron Doxey (Yunuen), Daniel Doxey, Claire Doxey, Hall Speed, John Speed, Mac Speed, and Luke Speed, Caroline Gratwick Manley (Spencer), Natalie Gratwick, and great grandchild Mara Curtis. He is predeceased by his parents Clem Melton Doxey Sr., Lily Hughes Doxey, and his sister Linda Doxey Butler.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Marietta, Georgia on February 3, 2025 at 2:00 pm followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church of Marietta.