Home > United States of America > South Carolina > Sumter County > Rembert > Grant Hill Baptist Churchyard Cemetery > Dr George William “Doc” Karelas

Dr George William “Doc” Karelas

View larger map

Birth	:	18 Aug 1914 Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
Death	:	22 Jul 1996 Newberry, Alachua County, Florida, USA
Burial	:	Grant Hill Baptist Churchyard Cemetery, Rembert, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate	:	34.0713840, -80.4479790
Plot	:	Addition 1 - Block 8 - Lot 14 - Site 6
Description	:	=================================== The Gainesville Sun, Thursday, July 25, 1996 by Scott Carroll - Special to The Sun NEWBERRY'S DR. KARELAS DIES AT 81 -- "Dr. K" was known to often accept fruit and vegetables in lieu of money. NEWBERRY - The people of Newberry have lost the only doctor many of them have ever know. Dr. George W. Karelas, the only full-time doctor to practice here for nearly 50 years, died Monday at his home. He was 81. Affectionately known as "Dr. K," Karelas was a welcome face to those in need of medical care, administering caring and compassionate services to his patients without concern for their... Read More	=================================== The Gainesville Sun, Thursday, July 25, 1996 by Scott Carroll - Special to The Sun NEWBERRY'S DR. KARELAS DIES AT 81 -- "Dr. K" was known to often accept fruit and vegetables in lieu of money. NEWBERRY - The people of Newberry have lost the only doctor many of them have ever know. Dr. George W. Karelas, the only full-time doctor to practice here for nearly 50 years, died Monday at his home. He was 81. Affectionately known as "Dr. K," Karelas was a welcome face to those in need of medical care, administering caring and compassionate services to his patients without concern for their ability to pay. Karelas was known to often accept fruit and vegetables in lieu of money. "He never sent a bill," said Newberry Mayor Grady Hartzog, who knew Karelas for more than 35 years. "Some of his patients didn't have money, but he treated all of them equally." Karelas, who was born in Lowell, Mass., promised his father as a child that he would become a doctor, but getting there was a long and difficult journey. Unable to finish high school because he had to help support his family, he settled for an equivalency diploma. After completing premedical courses at Harvard, MIT and Boston University, but unable to enter medical school in the Boston area, he hitchhiked west, picking up odd jobs such as cattle ranching and fruit picking along the way. He finally was admitted to the University of Kansas Medical School, where he earned his medical degree in 1943. Karelas was an authority on gerontology and geriatrics, and served on two congressional subcommittees examining issues related to health services and medical care for the aged. He later toned down these activities, however, when his son became ill. "My father practiced what he preached," said his son, Andy Karelas. "My brother was bedridded for 12 years with encephalitis. He was a complete invalid - couldn't walk, couldn't talk - and my father disregarded his prior accomplishments to care for him. He lived to serve him." Although he stopped serving on government committees, his service to Newberry and its community was uninterrupted. In addition to delivering more than 2,000 babies, caring for the elderly and serving all ages in between, he found the time to build Newberry a "Medical Rotunda." Family members said they hope another doctor can be found to take up practice there. Karelas' charitable work resulted in numerous accolades, including being knighted by King Paul II of Greece, receiving the Aristotelian Award from the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, a proclamation from the city of Newberry and Florida's Buss award for humanitarian service. He was practicing medicine as recently as last week, before succumbing to natural causes. Karelas, who was Greek Orthodox, is survived by his wife, Jessie Holder Karelas of Newberry; two sons, William G. Karelas of Miami and Andy Karelas of Newberry; three brothers, Andy Dennison, Ernie Dennison and Louie Dennison, all of Boston; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Danny Karelas. "He's going to be missed by everyone around here," said Mayor Hertzog. "He never met a stranger." Expressions of sympathy may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, P.O. Box 31356, Tampa 33656. =================================== The High Springs Herald - Thursday, August 1, 1996 EDITORIAL -- DOC KARELAS MADE HEALING CONTAGIOUS He was buried in blue jeans, a colorful shirt, string tie and a leather belt with a big buckle -- as if death were a barn dance. In life, Doc Karelas gave away confidence. In death, he looked to be carrying that spirit of confidence right to the other side of the grave. A big part of Newberry came to see Doc off last week. The country doctor's 81-year life was open to examination and celebration in the Municipal Building Thursday, in hundreds of black and white photos, newspaper clippings and letters, detailing his 50 years of practicing rural medicine. Even more of his life is stored in the hundreds of stories of Newberry residents he helped. Like the story of the man who had a toothache on a weekend evening. The man knew he would never find a dentist 'til the weekend was over, so he went and asked Doc for something for pain in the meantime. But Doc got on the phone to the dentist he knew in Gainesville. The man with the sore tooth could tell from Doc's side of the phone conversation, the dentist didn't want to work. "This man is hurting, he needs help," Doc argued. "Okay ... Okay ... Well, I won't do any more favors for you ..." Next thing the man knew, Doc was driving him to Gainesville and assisting a dentist in extracting his tooth. Another resident met Doc in a drugstore one day. "How's your wife?" Doc asked. She was having a medical problem. "Will she take medicine?" Doc asked. The man nodded. "Well, let's go get some." And off they went to find something to help the man's wife. In Newberry restaurants of an afternoon, Doc would sit and drink coffee with friends, greeting Newberry residents by name, asking about their mother or sister or father or brother by name. Folks would radiate in response, making the room seem happier and brighter. Doc would always end his conversations with, "I love ya." George Karelas -- most everybody called him Doc -- was an outspoken critic of the medical profession. He didn't like the greed. He sorely hated the greed. Doc never sent a bill. He once said he knew the secret of life. "Give," he said. "Give 'till it hurts." He made it his life's work to bring medical care to the poor and to rural communities, whether or not folks had money. He forced the national government's attention to migrant laborers and helped get better medical care for them. In the 1990s, Doc still made house calls. His office -- the medical rotunda -- felt more like a house than a doctor's office. The waiting room was like a living room, full of pictures, plants and books -- not just dated magazines, though those were there, too -- and it had a bed, with crisp white sheets, for anyone too ill to sit and wait. The rotunda was built with the help of some 100 patients. For a consultaiton, Doc invited you into his office, to sit by his desk. He talked. He listen. His eyes, warm and searching, his generosity of spirit and his contagious enthusiasm may have compelled folks to health as much as any medicine. Doc's life was a consecration to an ideal and an oath he swore -- the patient was the number-one priority. An admirer of Ghandi, Florence Nightingale and Mother Teresa, Doc was a man who embodied and projected the spirit of healing: To be around him was to feel better. Words spoken at his funeral service told how folks felt about him. "He didn't treat you like a number, but like a person." And heads nodded in agreement as the presiding minister forgave Doc for not being a churchgoer: "I wish more churchgoers were like him," he said. =================================== The Gainesville Sun - FUNERAL NOTICE KARELAS, DR. GEORGE W. Graveside Funeral Services for Dr. Karelas, age 81, Medical Doctor, will be held at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, 1996 at Graveside, with Rev. David Bump conducting the services. Burial will be in Newberry Cemetery, Newberry, FL. Arrangements are under the care of Williams-Thomas Funeral Home, 404 N. Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601. Dr. Karelas, who lived in Newberry, FL, died on Monday, July 22, 1996. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, PO Box 31356, Tampa, FL, 33631. The family will receive friends on Thursday July 25, 1996 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Newberry Municipal Building, Newberry, FL.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Dr George William “Doc” Karelas's memorial?
Dr George William “Doc” Karelas's memorial is located at: Grant Hill Baptist Churchyard Cemetery, Rembert, Sumter County, USA.
When did Dr George William “Doc” Karelas death?
Dr George William “Doc” Karelas death on 22 Jul 1996 in Newberry, Alachua County, Florida, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Dr George William “Doc” Karelas's memorial?
Latitude: 34.0713840
Longitude: -80.4479790

Family Members:

Spouse

Jessie Fern Holder Karelas

(1927 - 2002)

Children

Daniel William Karelas

(1957 - 1974)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Grant Hill Baptist Churchyard Cemetery
Rembert, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0713840, -80.4479790

2. Joshua Baptist Church Cemetery
Dalzell, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0691900, -80.4333920

3. Elizabeth Cemetery
Rembert, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0707114, -80.4675366

4. Elizabeth Cemetery
Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0708008, -80.4685974

5. Mileston Cemetery
Rembert, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0896860, -80.4505120

6. Dabney Pond Negro Baptist Church Cemetery
Columbia, Richland County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0421829, -80.4401245

7. Mount Carmel Cemetery
Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0414009, -80.4396973

8. Saint Philip's Episcopal Church Cemetery
Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1037000, -80.4251000

9. Ross Cemetery
Dalzell, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0324780, -80.4502230

10. Allen Family Cemetery
Bishopville, Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0907890, -80.4070280

11. Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery
Dalzell, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0321950, -80.4504790

12. Providence Southern Methodist Cemetery
Dalzell, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0299050, -80.4598550

13. New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery
Rembert, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0911000, -80.4992240

14. Greater Mount Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Rembert, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0617590, -80.5049310

15. Sand Hill Cemetery
Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1282997, -80.4514008

16. Mount Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery
Rembert, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0738840, -80.5167340

17. Sandhill Cemetery
Rembert, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1289934, -80.4520680

18. Tirzah Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Dalzell, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0156160, -80.4287640

19. Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0183700, -80.4029400

20. Rembert Hall Family Cemetery
Rembert, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1280100, -80.4079900

21. Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery
Dalzell, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0143630, -80.4887390

22. Mount Olive Memorial Gardens
Sumter, Sumter County, USA
Coordinate: 34.0956655, -80.3719031

23. Allen Hill Cemetery
Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1196330, -80.3810330

24. Saint John United Methodist Church Cemetery
Lee County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1440650, -80.4333010