James Califf

1956 - 2025

James Califf

October 12, 1956 - January 2, 2025

Summerfield, North Carolina - James Christopher Califf, MD, went peacefully to his heavenly home on January 2, 2025, with his loving wife, Laurie, by his side, in their Summerfield home. Jim was devoted to his faith, family, and friends. He was admired and adored by the many lives he touched. Even amidst a long and valiant fight with pancreatic cancer, Jim never lost his love of living. He made the most of his treatment travels by turning them into mini vacations with sightseeing and seeing plays, concerts and fireworks; creating cherished memories with family and loved ones, despite his waning stamina. As he often said (and did,) "the Duke Training" taught him to push through anything.

Born on October 12, 1956 (hence the name Christopher) to the late John W. Califf, Jr. and Sarah McKinnon Califf, Jim grew up in Columbia, South Carolina where he played in the streets and parks of Forest Acres while attending public school. He was an active member of BSA Troop 324 Bethel Church and proudly earned the Eagle Scout award. The scouting qualities of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, and "always prepared" were carried with him throughout his life. Jim graduated from A.C. Flora High School in Columbia where he attended Honors College at the University of South Carolina with a degree in Marine Biology. He later received his medical doctorate from Duke University School of Medicine where he continued with his residency in orthopedic surgery.

He began his medical practice at Kernodle Clinic in Burlington, NC where he practiced general orthopedics, specializing in spine care, while raising his beautiful and much-adored children. In 2012, after the older children went off to college, he, Laurie, and Katy moved to Blowing Rock/Boone, NC to explore life in their beloved mountains and provide spine care at Watauga Medical Center, for a community he loved so much. In 2022, the threesome, with their precious puppies, Winston and Mickey in tow, relocated to Summerfield, NC to provide more opportunities and be closer to family. Jim's legacy, as stated by coworkers and patients, is his kindness, generosity, and humor as much as it is his surgical skill, gentle but effective leadership, and excellent patient care.

While he always worked hard, delivering newspapers on his bicycle as a boy in Columbia, Jim played equally as hard and always found ways to have fun. His love of the ocean, especially the South Carolina coast and the city of Charleston, led to many beach vacations and was one of the first common bonds he and Laurie shared. One of their last vacations included sailing the Charleston Harbor, just as his father did as a child, growing up on Meeting Street. Whether at a lake or beach or in the mountains, Jimmy Buffett was playing in the background and there were games and gadgets galore. His biggest laughs came from swinging his kids around on a tube behind the boat, playing silly family games on Christmas Eve, or in being "Pops" indulging in popsicles and watermelon with his grandchildren. He was one of a kind.

James C. Califf is survived by his wife, Laurie Lindsay Califf; children Benjamin Califf (Whitley), Paige Westbrook (Clay), Caroline Baylor (Derek), John Califf and Katy Califf; grandchildren David and Sarah Westbrook and Maerin Baylor; siblings John Califf, Robert Califf (Lydia) and Sarah "Sis" Califf (John Phifer); mother-in-law Kay Laffoon; father-in-law Jim Lindsay; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who will look back on the good times remembering his classic, room brightening, dimpled smile with love.

A celebration of his precious life will be held on Saturday, January 18, at 2pm in the original sanctuary of Oak Ridge Methodist Church, where he and his family are not only members, but have loved and been loved tremendously. A receiving of friends and family will follow in the Family Life Center of ORMC. A special thank you also to our pastor, to the Marvelous Moms, and to our Bible Study friends at ORMC; to the family community of Henson Forest neighborhood; to both Duke and Cone Health/Drawbridge Cancer Centers; and especially to local family and lifelong friends who have been right by our side. It's a testimony to the hands and feet of Jesus walking this road while very often carrying us.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in honor of Jim to the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Network, or to Oak Ridge Methodist Church -P.O. Box 538 (mailing address)Oak Ridge, NC 27310-9723.