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Dr. Luke D. “Buddy” Baxley of Hartsville, SC, 59, went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 16, after an extended illness. Born March 14, 1951, in Hartsville at Byerly Hospital, Dr. Baxley graduated from Clemson University in 1973 and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 1982. He completed a 3 year family practice residency in 1985 at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. Dr. Baxley married Kathy Coker of Hartsville, SC, in 1975 and they have three children: Holly B. Ridgeway (Shane) of Effingham, SC, Dr. Luke D. Baxley of Baton Rouge, LA, and Amanda B. Kalinsky (Dr. Bradley) of Nashville, TN. Dr. Luke and Kathy have been blessed with two grandsons, Evan (5) and Truett (3 days) Ridgeway. He is also survived by his mother, Merle D. Baxley of Hartsville, and two brothers, Judge J. Michael Baxley of Hartsville and Dr. G. Timothy Baxley (Janet) of Seneca, SC. He was predeceased by his father, William H. Baxley of Hartsville, and his brother, Dr. William H. Baxley, Jr., of Greenville, SC. Dr. Baxley began working in Hartsville in 1983 during his residency and began his fulltime family practice in 1985 also in Hartsville. In 1988, he and his wife opened their own office, Prestwood Medical Associates, in Hartsville, where he worked until retirement in 2004. Dr. Baxley was a member of Lakeview Baptist Church and served the Lord in many capacities. He loved being with his family, being outdoors, and serving his patients and their families. His strongest qualities were his dry sense of humor and his incredible bedside manner. Dr. Baxley was involved with the initial formation of the Free Medical Clinic of Darlington County and began volunteering to see patients the first night it was open in 2000. He continued to volunteer there until 2005 after retirement. His patients lovingly referred to him as “the preacher doc”. Dr. Baxley was diagnosed in 2004 with a hereditary genetic disorder called GSS, Gertsmann Straussler Scheinker, a neurodegenerative prion disease. The family has been very involved in ongoing research and awareness efforts in order to find a cure for the disease. Funeral services will be held at 4 pm on Sunday, April 18, at Lakeview Baptist Church, with visitation from 2-4 in the Family Life Center at the church. Private family burial will follow the service. Rev. Dr. Tim McKnight, Rev. Frankie Tanner, Rev. Dr. Olin Whitener, and Rev. Dr. Joe Willard will officiate. Brown Pennington Atkins Funeral Home is serving the family. The family would like to thank the community of Hartsville for their ongoing prayers and support. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Luke D. Baxley family grant for GSS research, CJD Foundation, Box 5312, Akron, Ohio 44334, and the Free Medical Clinic of Darlington County, 203 Grove Street, Darlington, SC 29532.

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Luke Davis "Buddy" Baxley, MD

March 14, 1951 - April 16, 2010