Dr. Jim Brock

Father, Physician, Flugabonist, and Farmer - James Murray Brock, Sr., M.D. (91) died February 4, 2011, at his home in McComb, Mississippi. Dr. Brock practiced medicine for 62 years and was a pioneer in the field of skin surgery. He was also an avid musician and hobbyist farmer, serving as an inspiration to many with a life dedicated to service, science and the arts. 'Dr Jim,' as he was known throughout the community, was a civic leader renowned for his integrity and compassion. He couldn't wait to go to work every morning and he stayed active and inquisitive with a drive to learn that never waned, even through his final days. Jim Brock was born in Mt. Hermon, Louisiana, on May 13, 1919, to Dr. Lucius William Brock and Dannie Lee Tate Brock. He graduated from McComb High School and attended the University of Mississippi, receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree (1941) and completing two years of medical training before transferring to Harvard Medical School. While there, he contracted rheumatic fever and was subsequently confined to bed at home for more than two years. This time was not spent idly, however, as young Jim took the opportunity to memorize all of Beethoven's symphonies while he recuperated. Afterwards, doctors discouraged him from stressing his heart further by returning to the cold, northern climate of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was war time, however, and he was unsure of his prospects of completing his medical education. Even so, a visit to Tulane University Medical School with his father resulted in his acceptance and he graduated with the Doctor of Medicine degree there in 1947. In 1946, Jim married Mary Ellen Prosser of McComb, MS. He completed a rotating internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1948. Dr. Jim and Mary Ellen returned to McComb where he was in General Practice from 1948-1960. From 1955-1960, he completed a fellowship in Dermatology at Louisiana State University Medical School, while maintaining his practice in this community. In 1960, Dr. Brock opened the Brock Skin Clinic where he practiced dermatology until June 2010. From 1960-1980, he also served as the Director of Dermatologic Surgery Clinic at Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans. Dr. Brock trained with Dr. Frederic Mohs of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was a founding member of the American Society of Mohs Micrographic Surgery, an innovative technique that allows patients with skin cancer to retain as much healthy tissue as possible. At that time, skin surgery was a new field for dermatologists so medical residents from the Mayo Clinic, Louisiana State University and Tulane Medical Centers traveled to McComb to be trained by Dr. Brock, one of the earliest practitioners. Dr. Brock was a Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology, a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Mississippi State Medical Association, Louisiana Dermatology Society, and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery. As devoted as he was to the patients in his medical practice, he was equally gifted as a musician. While in high school, he was a member of the MHS band and the McComb Stage Band. At Ole Miss, he played with The Mississippians dance band, and for many years after graduation, he gained fame with his brother, Jep, as the oldest members of the Alumni Marching Band. In later life, he played with the Billy Fane Orchestra and the Lue Fane Trio. In the early 1990s, he founded Dr. Jim's One More Time Band, which traveled the South playing a unique repertoire of big band, classic jazz and show tunes with Dr. Jim often featured in a variety of themed hats to support the stories told through the music. As Dr Jim aged, he was known to exclaim to the audience, 'I can't walk, but I can still dance,' leading a conga line around the room to the band's final number ' 'When the Saints Go Marching In.' Dr. Jim was a brass man at heart ' at home on the trombone, flugabone, and helicon. But over the years, he also taught himself to play several string and percussion instruments, even mastering the keyboard in his eighties. In 2005, Dr. Jim received the Mississippi Health Care Association Volunteer of the Year Award for his regular performances in Pike County nursing homes where he continued to play jazz on Thursdays and hymns on Sundays through December 2010. Dr. Jim also owned several local farms where he raised livestock and cultivated a variety of crops. He enjoyed discussing cattle, and as his family and friends traveled, he never failed to inquire about the species of cow in the local area. He was also a deacon at the First Baptist Church, McComb, a retired member of the McComb Rotary Club, and a former Director at Trustmark National Bank. Although successful in medicine, music and farming, Dr Jim's greatest accomplishments came as patriarch of the Brock family. From 1979, he served as both mother and father to five children, inspiring them through his example to seek careers in health care and the arts. He was a generous supporter and enthusiast for every sports activity, theater event, art show, musical concert, charity benefit, and university education. His unconditional love of his family, legacy of achievement and colorful life have set a high bar for future generations of Brocks to follow. Dr. Brock is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 33 years, Mary Ellen Prosser Brock, and long-time family friend, Lue Fane Alford. He is survived by five children, James Murray (Spunk) Brock, Jr. M.D. and his wife Linda Young Brock of McComb, Lucius William (Dub) Brock, II of McComb, Dannie Ellen Brock Maples and her husband Michael Dudley Maples, M.D. of Jackson, Mary Prosser Brock of McLean, Virginia, and Oliver Eugene Brock, II, and his wife Tina Penick Brock of San Francisco, California; five grandchildren, Lea Ellen Brock Welborn and her husband Jerry Ryan Welborn of Oxford, James Lucius Brock and his wife Martha Boswell Brock of Oxford, Mary Ellen Maples Stancill and her husband Jefferson Kendall Blake Stancill of Birmingham, Alabama, Nathan Dudley Maples, M.D. of Jackson, and Brock Michael Maples of Jackson; and one great grandchild, Brock William Welborn of Oxford. He is also survived by a twin brother, Jep S. Brock, D.D.S., of McComb, younger brother, Ralph L. Brock, M.D., of McComb, and long-time faithful assistant, Janice Rawls of Magnolia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice Compassus, 140 North 5th St., Suite B. McComb, MS 39648 or First Baptist Church General Fund, 1700 Delaware Avenue, McComb, MS 39648.