Dr. William A. Cherry was born in Halls, Tenn., on Oct. 25, 1924, and was a resident of Baton Rouge. He died at Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge at 4:33 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, surrounded by family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; daughter, Susan Elisabeth Cherry; sons, Darrell K. Cherry and wife Marianna, of New Orleans, Philip A. Cherry, of Mandeville, and William Neal Cherry, of New Orleans; grandchildren, Patrick D. Cherry, Matthew B. Cherry, W. Colin Cherry and Maeve J. Cherry; step-son, Will Kibbe, and his children, Kardelle, William and Kenza. He is also survived by his brothers, Gerald Cherry and wife Shirley, Robert Cherry, Charles Cherry and wife Perrilyn; sister, Helen and husband Tom Bell; and brother-in-law, Ronald Guidry. Dr. Cherry was affectionately known as "Papa Better."
He was preceded in death by his mother, Bessie Riddick; father, William McKinley; and infant daughter, Barbara Joanna.
Dr. Cherry attended Tulane Medical School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and president of the Stars and Bars Chapter. He received a bachelor's degree in 1946 and a medical degree in 1949. He interned at Philadelphia General Hospital, his residency, and that of Thoracic Surgery at New Orleans Charity Hospital. He was a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Dr. Cherry was a retired rear admiral of the U.S. Navy, veteran of three wars and the U.S. Naval Active Reserve. He was the assistant surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service and was the commanding officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, the regional health director of the Department of Health and Welfare, Region VI, Dallas, chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard and in 1980, Gov. Edwin Edwards appointed him as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources for the state. Dr. Cherry was the past chief executive officer/medical director of the Louisiana Health Care Authority, state of Louisiana. He was recently the medical director of the Metropolitan Health Group. He also was in private practice in New Iberia from 1959 to 1963, and during this time he was the chairman of the Official Board of the First Methodist Church in New Iberia. He was the author of more than 24 publications in the medical field and received numerous awards among them was the Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal of the U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. Cherry was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery.
Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Friday from 8 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Chris Andrews officiating. Interment in the family cemetery, Halls, Tenn.
Obituary published in The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., on 9/13/2007.
∼Parental links suggested by Candice Poole.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; daughter, Susan Elisabeth Cherry; sons, Darrell K. Cherry and wife Marianna, of New Orleans, Philip A. Cherry, of Mandeville, and William Neal Cherry, of New Orleans; grandchildren, Patrick D. Cherry, Matthew B. Cherry, W. Colin Cherry and Maeve J. Cherry; step-son, Will Kibbe, and his children, Kardelle, William and Kenza. He is also survived by his brothers, Gerald Cherry and wife Shirley, Robert Cherry, Charles Cherry and wife Perrilyn; sister, Helen and husband Tom Bell; and brother-in-law, Ronald Guidry. Dr. Cherry was affectionately known as "Papa Better."
He was preceded in death by his mother, Bessie Riddick; father, William McKinley; and infant daughter, Barbara Joanna.
Dr. Cherry attended Tulane Medical School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and president of the Stars and Bars Chapter. He received a bachelor's degree in 1946 and a medical degree in 1949. He interned at Philadelphia General Hospital, his residency, and that of Thoracic Surgery at New Orleans Charity Hospital. He was a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Dr. Cherry was a retired rear admiral of the U.S. Navy, veteran of three wars and the U.S. Naval Active Reserve. He was the assistant surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service and was the commanding officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, the regional health director of the Department of Health and Welfare, Region VI, Dallas, chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard and in 1980, Gov. Edwin Edwards appointed him as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources for the state. Dr. Cherry was the past chief executive officer/medical director of the Louisiana Health Care Authority, state of Louisiana. He was recently the medical director of the Metropolitan Health Group. He also was in private practice in New Iberia from 1959 to 1963, and during this time he was the chairman of the Official Board of the First Methodist Church in New Iberia. He was the author of more than 24 publications in the medical field and received numerous awards among them was the Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal of the U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. Cherry was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery.
Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Friday from 8 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Chris Andrews officiating. Interment in the family cemetery, Halls, Tenn.
Obituary published in The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., on 9/13/2007.
∼Parental links suggested by Candice Poole.
Dr. William A. Cherry was born in Halls, Tenn., on Oct. 25, 1924, and was a resident of Baton Rouge. He died at Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge at 4:33 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, surrounded by family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; daughter, Susan Elisabeth Cherry; sons, Darrell K. Cherry and wife Marianna, of New Orleans, Philip A. Cherry, of Mandeville, and William Neal Cherry, of New Orleans; grandchildren, Patrick D. Cherry, Matthew B. Cherry, W. Colin Cherry and Maeve J. Cherry; step-son, Will Kibbe, and his children, Kardelle, William and Kenza. He is also survived by his brothers, Gerald Cherry and wife Shirley, Robert Cherry, Charles Cherry and wife Perrilyn; sister, Helen and husband Tom Bell; and brother-in-law, Ronald Guidry. Dr. Cherry was affectionately known as "Papa Better."
He was preceded in death by his mother, Bessie Riddick; father, William McKinley; and infant daughter, Barbara Joanna.
Dr. Cherry attended Tulane Medical School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and president of the Stars and Bars Chapter. He received a bachelor's degree in 1946 and a medical degree in 1949. He interned at Philadelphia General Hospital, his residency, and that of Thoracic Surgery at New Orleans Charity Hospital. He was a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Dr. Cherry was a retired rear admiral of the U.S. Navy, veteran of three wars and the U.S. Naval Active Reserve. He was the assistant surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service and was the commanding officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, the regional health director of the Department of Health and Welfare, Region VI, Dallas, chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard and in 1980, Gov. Edwin Edwards appointed him as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources for the state. Dr. Cherry was the past chief executive officer/medical director of the Louisiana Health Care Authority, state of Louisiana. He was recently the medical director of the Metropolitan Health Group. He also was in private practice in New Iberia from 1959 to 1963, and during this time he was the chairman of the Official Board of the First Methodist Church in New Iberia. He was the author of more than 24 publications in the medical field and received numerous awards among them was the Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal of the U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. Cherry was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery.
Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Friday from 8 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Chris Andrews officiating. Interment in the family cemetery, Halls, Tenn.
Obituary published in The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., on 9/13/2007.
∼Parental links suggested by Candice Poole.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; daughter, Susan Elisabeth Cherry; sons, Darrell K. Cherry and wife Marianna, of New Orleans, Philip A. Cherry, of Mandeville, and William Neal Cherry, of New Orleans; grandchildren, Patrick D. Cherry, Matthew B. Cherry, W. Colin Cherry and Maeve J. Cherry; step-son, Will Kibbe, and his children, Kardelle, William and Kenza. He is also survived by his brothers, Gerald Cherry and wife Shirley, Robert Cherry, Charles Cherry and wife Perrilyn; sister, Helen and husband Tom Bell; and brother-in-law, Ronald Guidry. Dr. Cherry was affectionately known as "Papa Better."
He was preceded in death by his mother, Bessie Riddick; father, William McKinley; and infant daughter, Barbara Joanna.
Dr. Cherry attended Tulane Medical School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and president of the Stars and Bars Chapter. He received a bachelor's degree in 1946 and a medical degree in 1949. He interned at Philadelphia General Hospital, his residency, and that of Thoracic Surgery at New Orleans Charity Hospital. He was a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Dr. Cherry was a retired rear admiral of the U.S. Navy, veteran of three wars and the U.S. Naval Active Reserve. He was the assistant surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service and was the commanding officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital, the regional health director of the Department of Health and Welfare, Region VI, Dallas, chief medical officer of the U.S. Coast Guard and in 1980, Gov. Edwin Edwards appointed him as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources for the state. Dr. Cherry was the past chief executive officer/medical director of the Louisiana Health Care Authority, state of Louisiana. He was recently the medical director of the Metropolitan Health Group. He also was in private practice in New Iberia from 1959 to 1963, and during this time he was the chairman of the Official Board of the First Methodist Church in New Iberia. He was the author of more than 24 publications in the medical field and received numerous awards among them was the Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal of the U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. Cherry was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery.
Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Friday from 8 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m., with the Rev. Chris Andrews officiating. Interment in the family cemetery, Halls, Tenn.
Obituary published in The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., on 9/13/2007.
∼Parental links suggested by Candice Poole.
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