John Dorminy, III, M.D. is being remembered in Tifton, Fitzgerald and throughout South Central Georgia for making a significant impact as a physician and community advocate. He passed peacefully in his sleep during the morning of March 8 at age 71.
“Dr. Dorminy touched many lives throughout his years of service as an obstetrician, gynecologist and chairman of the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation,” said William T. Richardson, President/CEO of Tift Regional Health System. “He was a true leader in the medical community and was beloved by his many patients.”
Mandy Brooks, Executive Director of the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation, said Dr. Dorminy cared deeply about improving the health and wellness of area residents.
“Dr. Dorminy was a visionary with dynamic ideas, giving countless hours of his time and resources to the foundation,” Brooks said. “He was our biggest contributor and campaigner, developing programs and raising funds that have enriched local health care.”
Born on July 13, 1944, Dr. Dorminy was raised in Ben Hill County but graduated high school at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He completed his undergraduate degree at Emory University in Atlanta and served in the U.S. Air Force as a hospital administrator in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He later earned his medical degree and completed residency training as an obstetrician and gynecologist (OB/GYN) at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
After returning to the area, Dr. Dorminy and fellow OB/GYN physician Dr. Sammie Dixon were instrumental in forming the Tift General Hospital Foundation in 1975, now known as the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation. Using seed funds from Dr. Dorminy’s family and the Rankin family, the foundation continues to provide medical equipment donations, hospital building project assistance, patient experience enhancements, medical scholarships and more.
In 1976, Dr. Dorminy formally joined an OB/GYN practice in Tifton with Dr. Dixon and Dr. John Dent. For the next 40 years, Dr. Dorminy provided health services for women in Tifton and Fitzgerald. This included delivering babies, performing gynecologic surgery and tending to primary care needs.
“Dr. Dorminy had a very loyal patient base,” said Richardson. “He was very skillful, personable and compassionate. Patients responded to his quality care and thoughtful nature.”
Dr. Dorminy served as the hospital foundation chairman from 1994 to 2015. In 2000, the Elene Dorminy Women’s Pavilion at Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) was named after his mother. Under Dr. Dorminy’s direction, the TRMC Foundation provided many resources and enhancements for the hospital and the TRMC Anita Stewart Oncology Center.
He also developed the foundation’s “Heart Safe Community” program, which provides Automatic External Defibrillators to area schools and organizations as well 12-lead EKG units to area emergency medical services. The J.H. Dorminy Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for those pursuing a degree in nursing or allied health.
“He was a compassionate man and was known as mentor, friend and family to many who knew him,” said Brooks. “He will definitely be missed.”
Dr. Dorminy was also known for his love of horse breeding as well as farming for peanuts, cotton and corn. He is survived by his wife Katarina; his son John (Sonny) and wife Ann; his daughter Lindy and husband Dustin; and, son Charlie and wife Caroline. He has 12 grandchildren, one great grandchild and another great grandchild on the way.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 10 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.at Paulk Funeral Home, located in Fitzgerald at 301 South Main Street. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 11 at First Baptist Church in Fitzgerald, located at 402 S. Merrimac Drive.
