Corey, James Hicks, Jr.

Longtime Pediatrician Was Former Chief Of Staff At T.C. Thompson

  • Thursday, December 29, 2011
James Corey, Jr.
James Corey, Jr.

Dr. James Hicks Corey, Jr., who practiced pediatrics in Chattanooga for 45 years, died on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at the age of 88.

A native of Greenville, N.C., Dr. Corey was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and received his medical degree at The University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Dr. Corey interned at the University of Virginia Hospital and in 1948 he came to Chattanooga for a two years residency in medicine and surgery at the Baroness Erlanger Hospital. Until December of 1951, he was in general practice in Brevard, N.C.

For three and one half years he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force, being stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio Texas, Sampson Air Force Base in New York, and with the 494th USAF Hospital Headquarters, Third Air Force, South Ruislip, London, England.

Dr. Corey returned to Charlottesville to serve a pediatric residency at the University of Virginia Hospital where he published articles: "Generalized Cytomegalic Inclusion Disease of the Newborn" Journal of American Medical Association, "Premature Infant Mortality" Journal of Pediatrics, "An Epidemic of Histoplasmosis In a Family" Diseases of the Chest.

Dr. Corey then returned to Chattanooga to establish a pediatric private practice at Children's Diagnostic Center.

Dr. Corey was board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Pediatrics. He was appointed to the University of Tennessee Clinical Education Center, as a clinical assistant professor.

He served as chief of staff at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital, was the president of the Tennessee Pediatric Society, and the chairman of the Campaign for Children at T.C. Thomson Children’s Hospital Foundation. He was the king at the 1998 Cotton Ball.

Dr. Corey was in private practice at The Children’s' Diagnostic Center for 40 years.

Dr. Corey was preceded in death by his parents, Laura Edwards and James Hicks Corey, a brother, Dr. Giles Patterson Corey, and grandson, Henry Allen Corey, Jr.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Virginia Cullom Corey. Other survivors are his children, James Hicks Corey III, Greenville, S.C., Henry Allen Corey and Maddin, of Chattanooga, John Patterson Corey and Mary Elizabeth, Virginia Ann Manson and Tim of Lookout Mountain; grandchildren, Merritt Corey, Meredith and Barrett Lee, Kate Corey, Maggie and Lizzie Corey, Tim, Corey and Ellen Manson, and great-grandson Jack Corey.

Dr. Corey was a member of the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, and First Centenary United Methodist Church.

A graveside service will be held at Forest Hills Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 31.

Visitation will be at First Centenary United Methodist Church, from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, December 30.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.

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