Fenwick W. Chappell passed away on August 15, 2024, at the age of 100. He was born on October 2, 1923, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He graduated from Mississippi College and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, later completing his Internship at John Gaston Hospital in Memphis and Residency in General Surgery at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. He served on active duty during WWII as a medical student in the V-12 program of the Naval Reserve and had additional active duty as a Medical Officer at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Memphis and on the USNS General E.T. Collins during the Korean Conflict. He was a surgeon in Memphis for many years before becoming the first Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was a member of the Memphis and Shelby County Medical Society, Tennessee Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, American Medical Association, Memphis Surgical Society, American College of Surgeons (Fellow), Tennessee Chapter of ACS, and Southern Surgical Congress. He was a founding member of American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), Tennessee Chapter of ACEP, and the Mid-South Emergency Medical Services Council.
He was active in the Memphis Civitan Club (past president) and the Memphis Orchid Society (past president). He was a member of Union Avenue Baptist Church where he served as deacon, choir member, Bible teacher, moderator, trustee, and treasurer. He raised beautiful orchids and traveled around the southeastern United States setting up exhibits at orchid shows for the Memphis Orchid Society. He was a world traveler. He visited all 50 states and every continent.
Dr. Chappell was preceded in death by Sue Valentine Chappell, his wife of 54 years; daughter Laura Sue Chappell; and granddaughter Becky Lewis. He leaves two daughters, Catherine Lewis (Dr. James B. Lewis) of Memphis and Jeannie Sandidge (Rick Sandidge) of Pueblo, Colorado. He also leaves four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Dr. Chappell exemplified II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” The family would like to thank the Memory Care staff at Trezevant for their seven years of loving care.
The funeral service will be at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Ave, at 10:00 Saturday morning, August 24. Visitation will be at 9:00, and internment is at Memphis Memory Gardens following the service.
Memorials can be sent to Trezevant Foundation, 177 North Highland, Memphis, TN 38111.
