Funeral services for Ledon Langston, of Brookhaven, are today, Sept. 23, 2017, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Brookhaven with burial at Riverwood Memorial Park.

Visitation was held Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, from 4 until 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Dr. Langston, 75, died Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven. He was known as “Doc” to those who loved him. He is celebrated by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 53 years, Cherie Pope Langston.

He had a distinguished career in medicine that spanned five decades, culminating in his 50-year class reunion that he enjoyed immensely just last month. After graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in1967, he trained as an intern in Savannah, Georgia.

He then proudly served his country as a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina and around the globe at Mildenhall Air Force Base at Lakenheath, England, where his squadron of C130s transported the 82nd airborne during the Vietnam War. He returned to Mississippi after, his service and completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Mississippi. The Langstons settled in McComb in 1974 where he enjoyed almost 25 years of service to the women of Pike and surrounding counties, delivering more than 6,000 babies during his career.

He took great pride in being a physician and the special relationship it afforded him with his patients, fellow physicians, nurses and all the staff of Southwest Clinic for Women and Southwest Regional Medical Center.

Not one to actually rest, after his first retirement, he began working for the Mississippi Department of Health seeing patients and instructing their nurse practitioners all over the state from 2001- 2010. Having loved his earlier role as a visiting teacher on occasion at Southwest School of Nursing, he also embarked on a teaching career at Jackson State University in their masters and doctorate program-from 2004-2008. While a consultant for the health department, he was on numerous committees including serving as the chairman of the Mississippi Folic Acid Council and representative of the National Folic Acid Council. He was also vice chairman of the Mississippi March of Dimes program services committee, and served on the Mississippi Public Health association executive council from 1999-2009.

In his next adventure, he joined the staff of King’s Daughters Medical Center in 2010 where he served as medical director of King’s Daughters Medical Clinic from 2010-2016. He continued to practice part time in Brookhaven as a collaborative physician with Brookhaven Health and Wellness, touching the lives of so many through his love for health care until just a few weeks ago.

He loved the Lord and his dear friends at J.J. White Presbyterian Church in McComb where he served as an elder for over 20 years. His witness of God’s love and grace was evident in his servant’s heart whether it was at home, at church, or in the communities he cherished. McComb was special to him where he and Cherie raised their three children and he volunteered in everything from Little League Baseball Coach to McComb High School football, serving as team doctor for the 4A State Champions of 1984. When a holiday came around, he absolutely loved setting up haunted houses at Hughs and Otken or anything that had to do with fall festivals and Christmas. After family and work, Doc’s two favorite things were Ole Miss sports and golf and he loved all his Fernwood golf buddies.

Most of his volunteer time during his years in Brookhaven was as his most treasured title, “Grandfather”. He was loved by family, friends, colleagues and patients and we are all blessed for having had him in our lives.

Survivors are his children, Cleve Langston, and his wife Ferris, of Tupelo, Leigh Cher Gray and her husband, Bruce of Brookhaven, and Shely Shows and her husband, Russ, of Oxford; grandchildren, Gracie, Rivers, Lily and Anabel Gray, Cashe and Crawford Shows, and Jack Langston; sister in law, Dot Langston; nephew, Joey and wife, Tracey Langston, of Booneville; their sons, Keaton, Colby and his wife Jessica, and Kane are great-nephews and special Rebel fans to Doc and Cherie; nephew, Shane Langston his wife Rebecca and their family, of Dallas, Texas, and aunt, Pearl Strange, of McComb are also special family members.

Many people are to thank for the care he received during his illness, in particularly Dr. Justin Baker and Dr. Paul Dykes. His family would like to express their sincere appreciation and love to the nurses and staff of King’s Daughters Medical Center, especially the dear nurses of Two Surgical, and Hospice Ministries.

In lieu of flowers memorial can be sent to the First United Methodist Church of Brookhaven or the University of MS Medical Center

To express your thoughts to the family, visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.