The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians sadly announces that OAFP Past President Wilburn H. Weddington, MD, 93, was called to heavenly service on December 26, 2017.
Born September 21, 1924, to Earl and Anna Mae Weddington in Hiram, GA, he was the oldest of two boys. He was a 1944 graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, and attended Howard University Medical School in Washington, DC, where he received his MD in 1948.
Dr. Weddington became the first African-American physician to belong to the Cobb County Medical Society in Marietta, GA. While serving in the U.S. Air Force, he was commissioned to Lockborne Air Base from which he was discharged in 1957 as a Captain.
Dr. Weddington’s most significant accomplishments came during his tenure as a local family physician in Columbus, OH, with his practice on Mt. Vernon Avenue and as a faculty member of The Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC) beginning in 1970. Dr. Wilburn Weddington was a distinguished teacher, practitioner, and the administrator most directly responsible for increasing minority recruitment for the OSUMC. He became the first black physician to be promoted to full professor in the medical school and eventually became associate dean.
He received countless awards and accolades for his work and service; the OAFP elected him as the first African-American president (1984-85) and Family Medicine Educator of the Year (1991); OSU honored him with the Distinguished Service Award (1999) and the Faculty Teaching Award (2005). In 2014, Dr. Weddington was memorialized at the Long Street Cultural Wall which celebrates the history and leaders of the King-Lincoln District and Near East Side neighborhoods.
Outside of his large private practice and teaching responsibilities, he cherished his family. He was a worldwide traveler, enjoyed his countryside cabin home in Georgia, loved to cook breakfast and BBQ ribs, Sunday school class and church were a priority, and visits with his grandchildren made him smile and laugh.
He was a member of numerous service and volunteer organizations including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. (initiated at Psi Chapter) and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Inc. (Lambda Boule).
Dr. Weddington served the city of Columbus and his community with integrity and honor for over 60 years. He will be remembered by his friends and family for his gracious giving, medical care, energy, leadership, passion, teaching, vision, and love of family.
Dr. Weddington is preceded in death by wives Patricia and Carline, son Wilburn H. Weddington, Jr., and brother Eddie Hugh. He is survived by son, W. Carlton Weddington; daughters, Cynthia (Alvin) Taylor of Riverdale, GA, Kimberly Weddington, and Marisia (David) Mills of Philadelphia, PA; grandchildren, Bianca Cunningham, Patrick Weddington, David and Daniel Mills; great granddaughters, Cheyenne Cunningham and Daiani Weddington; and a host of other loving family members and friends. Rest comfortably, dear Wilburn, you will be missed.
Homegoing Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, at the Christ Memorial Baptist Church located at 3330 E. Livingston Ave. in Columbus with family receiving friends and special tributes on Friday, January 5, from 6-8 p.m. Pastor Shedrick L. Fowler, officiating. Interment Union Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to The Deacon C.E. Weddington Scholarship Fund c/o Sweet Home Baptist Church, 280 Oak Street, Hiram, GA 30141. Condolences for the Weddington Family may be expressed online.
The OAFP has made a memorial gift in his memory to the OAFP Foundation.