John Michael Witherspoon

1940 - 2025

John Michael Witherspoon

July 31, 1940 - August 9, 2025

John Michael Witherspoon, MD, MPH, age 85, passed away peacefully at his home in Port Haywood, Mathews County, VA, on August 9, 2025. He was born in Columbus, OH, on July 31, 1940, the first child of Edith Adeline and John Kenneth Witherspoon.

Dr. Witherspoon attended Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring, MD and earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University. It was there he met Louise, a nurse, who would become his wife of 59 years. His training took him far and wide, including the Royal Infirmary at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and St. Thomas' Hospital in London. During these travels, he began collecting books, a passion that grew into an 8,000-volume library.

He interned at the University of Minnesota and served three years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He completed his residency training at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and earned his MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Witherspoon then joined the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he spent 41 years in a variety of clinical and academic roles. He was widely respected for his diagnostic skills, his bedside manner, and his dedication to teaching, earning numerous awards throughout his career. He was an member of the American Association for the History of Medicine, and in recent years, presented at their annual conference.

Dr. Witherspoon's interests were as varied as his professional achievements. He was an avid mountain climber, cyclist, and marathon runner, and he built intricate model train sets. A skilled carpenter, he constructed barns, a log cabin and furniture. In retirement, Mike and Louise moved full-time to their beloved home in Port Haywood. There, one of his greatest joys was riding his tractor and working on "the farm," as it is fondly called. He envisioned it as a gathering place for family and friends; a spot for swimming, kayaking, fireworks, covered wagon rides, and puppet shows. They became active in Central United Methodist Church in Mathews.

He is survived by his wife, Louise; his sisters, Judy Anderson and Martha Kelley (Dennis); his brother-in-law, Joseph Newton (Shirley); his daughter, Katherine Witherspoon (Eric Hardiman); and his son, Jeffrey Witherspoon (Laura). He is also survived by six grandchildren, Eleanor, Claire, Graham, Adeline, Amelia, and Ava; and by many nieces and nephews across the country. He was predeceased by two half-brothers, Thomas and Robert; his brother, James; and his niece, Jenny.

In accordance with his wishes, services will be private. A celebration of life, complete with food, drink, and music for dancing, will be held at a later date. Donations in Dr. Witherspoon's memory may be made to Hands Across Mathews, P.O. Box 1303 Mathews, VA 23109 or a charity of your choosing.