Popular doctor passes away

By Eddie West Staff Writer

Funeral services were held Friday for well-known  doctor and community leader Dr. Roger Duke.

Dr. Duke suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and passed away Monday (August 26) at the age of 72.

Some years ago, the Carthage doctor retired from a thriving medical practice and embarked on a medical consulting career which continued until recently.

While already known and respected for his years of practice as a private medical doctor, Dr. Duke’s expertise in the medical field came to the forefront of the community while guiding the county through its first modern day pandemic, COVID-19.

As the county, nation and world faced uncertainty about the deadly disease, Dr. Duke helped relieve much of the anxiety many individuals faced when confronted with a highly contagious, as well as widespread disease for which there was little to no treatment at the time.

It was a particularly trying time for elderly residents and those with underlying health issues, those most vulnerable to the new disease.

The world watched the disease spread from China, through European countries, to the United States and eventually to Tennessee and then Smith County. 

As the Director of the Smith County Coronavirus Task Force, the community, particularly the county’s school system, relied heavily on Dr. Duke’s advice.

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