Lea Givens Obituary

Lea Burnett Givens, MD SUMTER, SC - Lea Burnett Givens, M.D., husband of Mary Glenn Fishburne Givens, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at the Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born March 29, 1929, in Fountain Inn, he was a son of the late Osmine Boyne Givens and Janie Ward Givens. Lea Givens was a devoted husband, a loving father and a loyal friend. He was a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church and the Boyle Bible Class. Dr. Givens graduated at age 17 from Furman University in Greenville with a Bachelor of Science degree, then attended Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC, graduating in 1952. He interned at Roper Hospital in Charleston. After serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Germany for two years, he returned to Charleston for a residency in Internal Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina where he served as Chief Resident during his final year. Upon completion of that training, he received a cardiology fellowship at MUSC. He was board certified in Internal Medicine, a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Medical Association, the SC Medical Association, The American College of Physicians, The Sumter-Clarendon-Lee Medical Society and The Tuomey Foundation. Additionally, Dr. Givens was a member of the South Carolina Historical Society and a charter member of Les Trente. He received the Order of the Silver Crescent, an award from the governor recognizing dedication, commitment and leadership for the benefit of South Carolina and its citizens. Dr. Givens practiced Internal Medicine in Sumter from July 1959-July 2010 when he retired for health reasons. While in practice, his style of medicine was legendary. He increased his medical knowledge with frequent scholarly conferences sponsored by outstanding faculties of prominent medial centers such as Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and Harvard School of Medicine. He was an avid reader of medical journals to keep attuned to current research. He applied this up-to-date information to the tremendous number of patients he treated. Despite the changes in medicine, he and his partners still made occasional house calls. His knowledge, experience, and most specifically his commitment to each of his patients earned the loyalty and respect of his fellow physicians. He was a kind, gentle and compassionate man of steadfast spiritual strength and great courage. Dr. Givens was a skilled and enthusiastic tennis player. He enjoyed travel, especially in North America and Europe. In addition to his wife of Sumter, Dr. Givens is survived by sons, Lea B. Givens, Jr. and wife Linda of Charleston and Glenn Fishburne Givens of Sumter; a sister-in-law, Mildred B. Givens of Fountain Inn; a brother-in-law, Dr. Cotesworth Pinckney Fishburne, Jr. and wife Shirley of Rock Hill. He was predeceased by a brother, Osmine Boyne Givens, Jr. The family would particularly like to express gratitude to Dr. Hugh Stoddard, Dr. Philip Brandt, Dr. Billy Clowney, Dr. Kent Cunningham; caregivers, Mae and John Martin; and the oncology nursing staff. Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kevin Gorry officiating. Pallbearers will be Dr. Phil Brandt, Dr. Hugh Stoddard, Dr. Wendell Levi, Dr. Ted Young, Ozzie Givens, Glenn Ayers, Hugh Humphries, Parkin Thomas, C. O. "Buddy" Gulledge, Charles "Squeaky" Alessandro, and Doug Lipscombe. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Boyle Bible Class. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of the church immediately following the service. Private burial will be held at Sumter Cemetery. In praise of his life, those who wish may send memorial contributions to Trinity United Methodist Church, 226 W. Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150 or to the Tuomey Foundation, 115 N. Sumter Street, Suite #120, Sumter, SC 29150. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/ deaths