Dr. Elton K. Gaddy, MD transitioned at 60
Singletary visit with Gaddy at the VA hospital in Atlanta.
By Shakey Daddy Monroe
Every so often, a person comes along that makes an indelible impression on those around him. Dr. Elton K. Gaddy, MD is being remembered as one of those people as friends gathered to remember him.
Gaddy, 60, passed away on Aug. 20 at Columbus Hospice in Columbus, Ga., after a 10-year battle with prostate cancer. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Aug. 27 at Body of Christ Church International in Phoenix City, Ala. The wake is from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 26 at Taylor Funeral Home in Phoenix City.
“I’ve never known him to talk bad about anyone,” Sam Singletary said. “He was always an upbeat and easy-going person.
“I can’t ever remember him having a bad day to the point where he’s cursing and swearing. That’s not Elton. We’ve been friends for over 40 years. I can’t say how he acted with other people all the time, but I never knew Elton to have an enemy. I never knew him to have anything bad to say about anyone. He was a good dude. He was just a happy-go-lucky nice guy. I really didn’t know his parents that well, but I know they raised a good person.”
Friendship forged at Morehouse
Singletary, a Fort Lauderdale native and former Dillard High School basketball stand-out, forged a close friendship with Gaddy, while they were students at Morehouse College during the mid-70s. Gaddy was also a Fort Lauderdale native and attended Boyd Anderson High School alumni He and Singletary attended the same church, First Baptist (Piney Grove) growing up but there was no interaction until Morehouse.
“Those two years (age difference) we had between us is why we really didn’t run in the same circles,” said Singletary, who roomed with Gaddy three years at Morehouse. “If I said five words to Elton when I was growing up, I might be exaggerating.
“But when we hit Morehouse and wound up being room-mates, it was like a total surprise. I would run with him and he would run with me. Some of his friends became my friends and some of my friends became his friends. We stayed friends for
over 40 years.”
Singletary, Class of 1972 at Dillard, was among the last all-Black graduating class in Dillard history. Gaddy, the Class of 1974 at Boyd Anderson, was among the second graduating class in its school history.
After graduation from More-house, Gaddy entered Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., earning a medical degree in internal medicine. After medical school, Gaddy served in the U.S. Navy before going into private practice in Phoenix City, Ala.
Singletary, who spent his career working for Delta Air Lines in Atlanta, said he and Gaddy remained close friends and kept in touch via telephone.
“There was probably a span where I didn’t lay eyes on Elton in the flesh was probably about 20 years,” Singletary said. “But we always managed to stay in touch.”
Singletary said Gaddy had a strong love for Dillard High sports. There were numerous conversations about the Panthers legendary basketball and football teams. His favorite Dillard players included Joe Bynes and Robert G. (St. Pete) Williams, respectively. Singletary said it was amazing how Gaddy could recall many of those big games that Bynes and Williams played in, especially when Dillard played archrival Blanche Ely High School.
Final farewell
Singletary recalls his final visit with Gaddy. It took place in April at the VA hospital in Atlanta.
“I remember going to visit
him at the hospital earlier this year,” Singletary said softly. “He was just jovial and happy and talking.
“He was looking forward to going back home and acted like nothing was wrong. He told me that he was being released (from the hospital) because his body cannot take anymore chemo right now. But he was never down and out . . . no matter what the situation. He always had a positive outlook and stayed upbeat.”
Survivors include his wife, Lora Edna Gaddy of Phoenix City, AL; two sons, Sya McDaniel Gaddy and Evan Micheal Gaddy both of Phoenix City, AL; one daughter, Christine Llarice Gaddy of Phoenix City, AL; one brother, Christopher Vans Gaddy of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; two grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Dr. Elton Keith Gaddy June 26, 1956- August 20, 2016
PHENIX CITY, AL- Dr. Elton Keith Gaddy, 60, of 22 Peacock Drive, Phenix City, Ala. passed Saturday, August 20, 2016 at Columbus Hospice.
Funeral service will be held 11a.m. (EST) Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 at Body of Christ Church International, Phoenix City, Ala. with Bishop Gregory K. Blue, pastor and Pastor Fred Davis, officiating. Interment is 10 a.m. (EST) Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, Ala. Visitation is Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 from 2 – 8 p.m. EST with a family hour from 5 – 7 p.m. EST according to Taylor Funeral Home, Inc.
Dr. Gaddy was born June 26, 1956 in Monmouth, N.J. to the late Robert V. Gaddy, Jr. and the late Delores Sullivan Gaddy. He attended Dillard High School, Morehouse College and Meherry Medical School. He was a member of the AMA, Phi Beta Sigma and served in the U.S. Navy. He was employed as an Internal Medicine Physician.
Survivors include his wife, Lora Edna Gaddy of Phenix City, Ala.; two sons, Sya McDaniel Gaddy and Evan Micheal Gaddy both of Phenix City, Ala.; one daughter, Christine Clarice Gaddy of Phenix City, Ala.; one brother, Christopher Vance Gaddy of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; two grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visit www. thetaylorfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest registry.
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