Dr. Otis Rodney Vickers, age 74, of Douglas, Georgia passed away peacefully on Friday, May 7, 2021 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Dr. Vickers was born on December 12, 1946 in Douglas, GA to the late Otis Vickers and Sybil May Vickers.
Dr. Vickers was born and raised in Coffee County, where he lived most of his life, growing up in the Ambrose community and attending Coffee County public schools. He was an active member of the 4-H Club, ultimately serving as President of the State Club Council. Dr. Vickers attended Emory University and graduated in 1968 with a degree in chemistry. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. During his sophomore year, he worked in a patronage position for U.S. Senator Richard B. Russell while attending George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Vickers graduated from the Medical College of Georgia, where he served as Vice President of the Student Medical Association. After an internship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he completed a general surgery residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, LA. During his time at LSU, he was a member of the Rives Surgical Society and authored numerous research articles.
After completing his education and medical training, Dr. Vickers returned to Coffee County and practiced general surgery for 28 years. During his surgical career in Douglas, he served three terms as Chief of Surgery, two terms as Chief of Staff, where he oversaw the completion of a new state-of-the-art hospital which is still used today. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an Associate Professor of Surgery at Mercer University School of Medicine, offering a preceptorship at his practice for medical school students. Dr. Vickers served as the team doctor for the Coffee High School Trojan football team for nine years, President of the Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.
In memory of his parents, Dr. Vickers established the Otis and Sybil Vickers Memorial Scholarship at South Georgia State College. In his spare time, Dr. Vickers enjoyed forest management, conservation, and served five years on the Coffee County Forestry Commission. After a distinguished career, he spent his retirement managing his family’s farm of four generations in Ambrose. He was a devoted member of New Hope Baptist Church in Ambrose and enjoyed teaching Sunday School. Dr. Vickers loved practicing medicine, hunting, and fishing but most of all he loved his two daughters and 3 grandchildren.
Survivors include two daughters Kate Vickers Olsen (Mark) of Atlanta, GA, and Emily Vickers Courson (Tye) of Douglas, GA; grandchildren, Mathew Hampton Olsen, Davis Tye Courson, and Elliot Ovida Olsen. Dr. Vickers was preceded in death by his father Otis Vickers, mother Sybil May Vickers, and sister Brenda Faye Vickers.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 10, 2021 at 2:00 PM at New Hope Baptist Church with Rev. George Carroll Paulk and Rev. Carroll Carver officiating. The interment will follow at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery. Al Merritt, Jr., Dennis Paulk, Juran Ray, Charlie Ricketson, Sr., Wendell Sturgis, and Wayne Vickers will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends Monday, May 10, 2021 from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at New Hope Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.