Bruce Cameron Newsom MD

Columbus, GA - Bruce C. Newsom, M.D., of Columbus, Georgia, died Tuesday, November 16, 2010, at St. Francis Hospital. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 19 at Striffler-Hamby Chapel, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia, with Reverend Cindy Cox Garrard officiating and Dr. Spencer Garrard providing the eulogy. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 18 and on Friday from noon to 1:00. A private interment will be held in Parkhill Cemetery immediately following the service.

Born June 9, 1925 in Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Newsom was a resident of Columbus, Georgia since 1930. He was a 1942 graduate of Columbus High School, a 1944 graduate of Emory University, and he obtained his M.D. degree from Emory University Medical School in 1948. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy (1943-45 V-12 program) and a Captain in the U.S. Air Force (1950-52 - Deputy Chief of Surgery, Sampson AFB, NY). Dr. Newsom was a board certified surgeon with a private practice in Columbus in General Surgery from 1954 to 1985 and in Industrial Surgery/Occupational Medicine from 1986 until he retired in 1993. He was a member of numerous medical associations, including the American Medical Association, the Muscogee County Medical Society (Past President), and the Medical Association of Georgia, serving as a member of the Occupational Health Committee (1981-1993) and the Prison Health Committeee (1981-1992). Dr. Newsom served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery of the Medical Center Hospital and also had staff privileges at Doctors Hospital and St. Francis Hospital. He was proud of being a Founding Member of MAG Mutual Insurance Company and served on MAG's Board of Directors and Executive Committee and as Chairman of MAG's Underwriting Committee from MAG's inception until his retirement from the Board (1982 to 1996). He was also a member of Phi Delta Theta Social Fraternity and Phi Chi Medical Fraternity (Past President). For many years he was an avid fisherman, both on the backwaters and in the Gulf (with his boat named "So What"), transitioning later in life to cultivating muscadine vines, making jellies, gardening, and tending his land on his tractor, bulldozer, and backhoe. Always, he cheered for the Braves.

Dr. Newsom is survived by his wife, Wanda Crofford Newsom; his daughter Athena Christine Newsom, his children by his first marriage to Marie Phifer Newsom - Cam Newsom Railey (Jim), Gwyn Phifer Newsom (Richard Bunn), Debra Newsom Freeman, and Bruce Grady Newsom (Jenny); grandchildren Michael Dean Curry, Brooke Railey Phillips (Brian), Brian Neal Railey, Grady Newsom Bunn, Callie Bunn Metler, Elizabeth Bunn Foskey (James), Taylor Norman Freeman (Jessica), Lesley Freeman Tubbs (Nathan), Alicia Owen Marquez, Jay Michael Swinks, Tyler Justin Swinks; great-grandchildren Lilly Cameron Phillips, Carter James Phillips, Logan Robert Metler, Benjamin Allen Metler, Sadey Elizabeth Foskey, Morgan Elaine Acree, Tanner Norman Freeman, and Sophia Marie Tubbs; sister-in-law Lisa Beckwith Newsom; nieces and nephews Bradley Newsom, Leslie Rascoe, Andrew Newsom, Ansley Kreitler, and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Dr. Newsom was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Otis Bruce Newsom (former pastor of Eastern Heights and Oates Avenue Baptist churches) and Ruby Cameron Hilley Newsom, and his only sibling, his brother Dr. Neal Hilley Newsom (former OB/GYN in Atlanta).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Valley Rescue Mission, Hope Harbour (Battered Women’s Shelter), or charity of your choice.