Floyd Thomas Carey, Sr, MD, FAAP, 87, of Summit, passed away on June 2, 2022.

Born and raised in Richton, MS, he was a graduate of the 1953 class of Richton High School. He attended Millsaps College for three years then left to enter dental school at the University of Tennessee. After several quarters of dental school, and (in his words) "being horrible at sculpting teeth," he changed his course of studies. He earned a Master of Science in Biochemistry and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Tennessee. After completing an internship at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, he entered private practice as a General Practitioner in Chatsworth, GA.

He and his partners decided to continue their medical training one year at a time on a rotating basis so their practice could continue serving Chatsworth. Thus, in 1966, he began a pediatric residency in Memphis, TN. He returned to his practice in Chatsworth until 1968. He then moved to University of Mississippi Medical Center where he finished his pediatric residency and served as Chief Resident from 1970-71.

Dr. Carey and Dr. Shelby Smith selected McComb, Mississippi to establish the first pediatric practice in Pike County. Dr. Carey opened the practice in 1971. The clinic had offices in McComb and, at one time Brookhaven, and continues to serve children today. During this time, he was on staff at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center and served in many positions there, including Chief of Staff. Being a part of State and National Medical professional organizations was important to him as he believed that participation was the way to be informed and enact change.

He loved the camaraderie and engagement. He had been a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics since 1972 and served in various roles including President for AAP MS Chapter from 1990-92. An active member of the MS State Medical Association, he was awarded the MSMA Community Service award in 2008.

He left private practice in 2002 to serve as the Pediatric Consultant for the Mississippi State Department of Health where he educated and advocated for not only the children of MS, but for those providing care to them. He enjoyed collaborating with all the Health Departments throughout the state. When he retired from the MSDH, he volunteered as a doctor at the St. Andrews Free Medical Clinic in McComb.

Dr. Carey believed in serving communities where he resided. A member of Centenary United Methodist Church, he served on many committees, most recently the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. He was a devoted member of his Sunday School Class. Dr. Carey was a Jaycee in Chatsworth and served more than 45 years as a Rotarian. He was as a member of the City of Summit Planning Commission and on the Board of Directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi for many years.

He was devoted to the Rotary Club of Summit basketball program and looked forward to their Annual Pancake Breakfast. Dr. Carey was recognized for his community service by being chosen as the Junior Auxiliary of McComb King in 2000 and as the Lifetime Achievement Award Winner by the Enterprise Journal in 2007.

Dr. Carey chose his headstone to read "Thank you God for letting me be a doctor." For over 30 years, he combined his love for God and medicine by serving as a team member on medical mission trips to Honduras, Peru, Jamaica, and Haiti. Most of the medical missions he participated in were countries where Spanish was the primary language. He did not want to have to rely primarily on translators, so at the age of 60, he enrolled at Southwest MS Community College to learn Spanish. He would then go to restaurants and practice with anyone who would engage.

An athlete from an early age, he played football, basketball and baseball in high school and basketball at Millsaps. He found a way to be involved in some type of sports even after college, whether playing softball in church leagues or cheering on the New Orleans Saints or Atlanta Braves. He also coached youth baseball and Rotary Basketball in Pike County. Aside from being present to see Mississippi State University win the College World Series in 2021, his greatest sporting memories came from watching his children, grandchildren, and great-niece play sports.

Most remember Dr. Carey from his bird whistles which he used daily with children. With an ever-present smile and love of people, he never met a stranger, always enjoyed seeing former patients and continued to talk about and keep up with them. He loved God, children, the communities where he lived and his family (especially the grandchildren). He was a dedicated gardener, a private pilot, an avid Mississippi fan (he pulled for all the Mississippi Colleges and Universities), a voracious reader and an enthusiastic restorer of his home in Summit.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Vondee Manasco Carey; parents, Leo Carey Myrick, and Floyd Carey; and two sisters, Mary Elizabeth "Prissy" Sellers (Clyde) and Pat Kruse (Ted).

He is survived by children, Darlene Carey (William Harmon) of Greenville, MS; Tom Carey, Jr (Delecia) of Maurice, LA; Chris Carey (Kayce) of Newton, AL; Ellen Carey of Lafayette, LA; 9 grandchildren, Ben (Alex) Carey of San Diego, CA; Floyd Carey of Hilliard, OH; Margaret and Matthew Carey of Maurice, LA; McKenna, Madelyn and Will Carey of Newton, AL; Mare Gibbs (Jake) of Memphis, TN; and Mollie Witherspoon (Joseph) of Hernando, MS; and many nieces, nephews, and close cousins.

The Funeral Service will be held at 2 pm Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Centenary United Methodist Church in McComb, MS with his nephew, Rev. David Sellers, officiating. Visitation will be at Centenary United Methodist Church on Friday, June 10, from 5 – 8 pm and Saturday from 12 – 2 pm.

Pallbearers will be Gerald Alexander, Chris Charles, MD, Eddie Cockerham, Robin Fenn, Jamie Gatlin, and Percy Robinson.

Honorary pallbearers include Bennie Evans, Tom Jeffcoat, MD, Don Magee, John Manning, MD, Sam Miller, Carlton Peeples, Shelby Smith, MD, Pat Tarpy, MD and "Old Man Coffee Club" members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the "Dr. Tom Carey Medical Mission Memorial Fund" at First Bank (PO Box 808, McComb, MS 39648) so that his legacy of service may continue, or a charity of your choice.

Thanks to the staff and providers of The MS Cancer Institute, Ochsner SICU, Ochsner Neuro-ICU, Clark Alsfeld, MD, Ronald Delrie, MD, Ray Montalvo, Jr, MD and Mary Thornton, FNP-C. Hartman -Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.