Mendall Jordan

Mendall was born in August 1941, in Kannapolis, NC. His parents always emphasized the importance of hard work and education. During his youth, he worked with his father, selling produce from the back of a pickup truck across multiple states and at the grocery store and curb market his parents operated in Kannapolis. In 1960, Mendall graduated from A.L. Brown High School, in Kannapolis, and later from North Carolina State University in 1964, with a B.A. in mathematics. He received his medical degree from Bowman Gray Medical School at Wake Forest University in 1968, completed his internship in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital, in St. Louis, MO, and did his residency in dermatology at Yale-New Haven Hospital, in New Haven, CT. Although he could not attend the fiftieth reunion of his graduation from Bowman Gray because of his declining health, Mendall’s classmates surprised him with a group phone call, and he was proud to receive a handsome medal to commemorate the anniversary.

Mendall opened his first dermatology practice in Sanford in 1972, then moved to Raleigh in 1976 to start a new practice. He retired from his practice in 2001 but remained in regular contact with his staff, whose friendships he valued right up until his death. Always interested in the stock market and investing, Mendall assumed he would pursue this avocation in retirement, but he quickly realized that retirement wasn’t for him, so he did locum tenens work for other dermatologists in NC and other states until his most recent illness. His sister, also a dermatologist who did locum tenens work for Mendall, said that at work, he was the most complete, most contented and most at peace she had ever seen.

For someone who, by his own admission, was not a “people” person, Mendall learned to open up and develop friendships that lasted a lifetime. Mendall and Suzanne Britt were married for fifteen years, rearing their children, traveling, and visiting extended family. After they were divorced, he joined a men’s group, and the numerous close friendships he made in the group (and golf that he learned to play during this time) supported him through his life. Carolyn Narron was a wonderful friend and companion, and she and her family were an important part of his daily life for several decades through the end of his life. Mendall loved the time spent with his grandchildren, and their toddler years provided him with endless amusement. He was fortunate enough to travel to many places in the world with his children, extended family and friends, including numerous states and places as distant as Australia. Peggy Hildebrand’s roaming spirit rejuvenated him in his last year with the promise of a future of travel. He also enjoyed meeting people in the Evergreen B&B Club, spending time with people who shared his love of history, geography and travel.

A witty man, with a gift for wry humor, he seldom missed an opportunity to expose affectation and pretense. He never shied away from trying different experiences throughout his lifetime: biking, skiing, hiking, golfing, scuba diving, hang gliding, white water rafting, parachuting out of an airplane, square dancing, playing the trumpet, earning his pilot’s license, riding his motorcycle, singing in a barbershop quartet, square dancing, and even spending some time at a Trappist monastery. Conscious of maintaining good health, he went regularly to the gym and often walked several miles a day. Mendall always worked on improving himself physically, intellectually and spiritually, and he was looking forward to a long life of travel and learning.

Mendall is survived by his daughter, Carrie Freeman, and her husband, Gus Grubba; his son, Tom Jordan, and his partner, Nina Karras; his sister, Joyce Carter, and her daughter, Marshele Carter; his sister, Judy Jordan, MD, and her husband, James Thomas, MD; his grandchildren, Ella and Isaac Freeman, and his step-grandchildren, David, Hannah and Ezra Grubba. He is preceded in death by his parents, Nannie Mae and Leonard Jordan, and by his brother-in-law, Joey Carter, MD.

A funeral service is scheduled for Sunday, June 24, at 3:00 p.m. at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, located at 300 St. Mary’s Street, Raleigh, with a time of visitation and reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Mendall’s life.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to NC State University, College of Sciences Foundation, c/o Dr. Mendall Jordan Endowment, Campus Box 8118, Raleigh, NC 27695-8118. To make donations online, please click the link below, select “Other” fund, and specify Dr. Mendall Jordan/Math. Condolences can be sent to www.brownwynneraleigh.com.

The family would like to thank the numerous relatives, friends, doctors and other caregivers who supported Mendall during his lifetime and in his last days.