06/01/2020
With both with a heavy heart and profound gratitude for his many years of service, the medical staff and administration of Greenwood Leflore Hospital extend our sincere condolences to the family of Dr. John Fair Lucas, Jr., who passed away on May 29, 2020. Dr. Lucas was an exceptional surgeon and a gentleman, with an emphasis on the “gentle.” As talented as he was with a scalpel, he had a calm bedside manner that put his patients at ease.
The word legacy can sometimes be used lightly, but not many lives epitomize it the way Dr. Lucas’ did. The love of medicine ran deep in him, having been passed down from his father, Dr. John Fair Lucas, Sr. Of his five children, three chose to follow in his footsteps in the practice of medicine, including Dr. John F. Lucas III, who like his father serves this community in many capacities.
His 45-year career saw him practice general surgery as well as many other specialized surgeries including thoracic, urologic, orthopedic, gynecologic, otolaryngology and obstetrics. When Dr. Lucas retired from surgery, the hospital dedicated Operating Room One in his name. He maintained a practice of seeing patients until 2008, when he fully retired at age 78.
Dr. Lucas will be missed by all who had the privilege of working alongside him, and this hospital is better for having had his steady leadership, both in and out of the operating room.