Samuel Jernigan MD

Memorial services for Dr. Samuel C. Jernigan, 87, of Dallas, Texas will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church (LLUMC), Shipp Chapel, 9200 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75220. Reception will follow in Watson Hall.
“Dr. Sam”, as he was affectionately known, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 1, 2017 following surgery, at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
Born in McEwen, TN on October 4, 1929 to Arbie Belle (Stanfield) and Richard Parvin Jernigan, Sam was the youngest of eight children. He spent his early days exploring the rural Tennessee countryside with his brothers and friends. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force and was trained as a jet fighter pilot. Following his service, he enjoyed piloting small planes when he had time, often with one or two of his children as passengers.
After discharge from the USAF, Sam attended Lamar College in Beaumont, Texas, where he met and married his biology lab partner, Mary Carolyn Radford of Nederland. Carolyn worked as a high school biology teacher while Sam attended University of Texas Medical School in Galveston, where he specialized in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Following residency at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, he and Carolyn settled in Irving, where he practiced for 33 years and delivered over 8,500 babies.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 52 years, Carolyn Radford Jernigan; son, David Carlyle Jernigan; and grandchildren, Christopher Jordan and Molly Jordan.
He is survived by children, Kathryn Adams of Austin, TX, Jim Jernigan of Cleburne, TX, Julia Gibson of Dallas, Sharon Salinas of Dallas, Bruce Jernigan of Dallas; and Bryan Jernigan of Tyler, TX. He also leaves 13 grandchildren and three great grand daughters who all adored their “Pappaw.”
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LLUMC “In Memory of Samuel C. Jernigan.”