March 3, 1938 – August 26, 2023
Funeral services for Dr. Charles Norwood will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2023 in Emmanuel Baptist Church, Alexandria, with Dr. Chris Thacker officiating. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Roberts Cemetery, Grayson, Louisiana, under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Alexandria.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. until shortly before time of service in the church on Thursday.
Dr. Charles Norwood was born 3/3/1938 in Monroe, LA to Leo Earl Norwood and Sadie Elizabeth Yarborough Norwood. He passed away on 8/26/2023 at Rapides Regional Medical Center at the age of 85.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved Aunt Irma Yarborough. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lillian Aline (Mayes) Norwood; daughter, Doris Duncan (Robert); sons Luke Norwood (April) and Charlie Norwood (Monica); Beatriz Valdez Martinez; brother, Jim Norwood; 6 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He graduated from LSU school of medicine in 1963. He completed his internship at Confederate Memorial Hospital in Shreveport and then was drafted into military service with 1st special forces for two years on Okinawa. He received the Distinguished Service Medal. He spent 14 years as a missionary physician. He completed additional training in tropical medicine, surgery, and pediatrics. After his missionary service, he continued his work in medicine as an emergency room physician for many years. He was a published author, having published articles in several national journals. He continued to make medical missions trips to numerous locations around the globe. He imparted his incredible wealth of medical experiences to numerous young physicians as a professor for the LSU family practice residency program in Alexandria, LA.
He was always happiest when he was able to be part of the growth and development of those he taught. He enjoyed creating LSU themed paintings for all of the medical residents he mentored. He was proud of his children and showed them all the importance of kindness and benevolence to others. His life of service to others is unparalleled and his humility, kindness, benevolence, and self-sacrifice will all serve as his legacy.
Pallbearers will be Jordan Salsbury, John Luke Oxner, Bennie Archie, Eric Kent, Gary Mayes, Jim Mayes, and Robert Duncan.
In lieu of flowers, we would encourage donations to Emmanuel Baptist Church, Springhill Baptist Church, or LSU Family Medicine Residency Program.