Dr. Frederick Douglas Burroughs

FREDERICK DOUGLAS BURROUGHS, MD, FCP

 Dr. Frederick Douglas Burroughs, 89, of Raleigh, NC traveled peacefully the last mile of the way to be with the Lord on Sunday evening, August 18, 2019. The third of five children, Dr. Burroughs was born on July 26, 1930 in Burlington, New Jersey to the late Vanderbilt and Bessie Burroughs.  Presented with many challenges, it was relatively late in life that he realized his childhood dream of becoming a doctor; he was nearly forty when he began medical practice.

 He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton Institute, Hampton, Virginia, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army ROTC.  He began active duty after graduation, completing tours of duty in the United States and Germany.  He entered Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee and received the Doctor of Medicine Degree in 1966.

 Three years later, with great personal financial risk, he moved his young family to Raleigh and opened an office in a southeast Raleigh neighborhood, devoting his practice entirely to the specialty of Pediatrics.  Many of his young patients had little or no insurance.  He quickly gained acceptance among his colleagues, not by demanding recognition, but by earning their respect through his hard work, dedication and medical expertise. His love for his patients has been felt through the years.

 Dr. Burroughs wanted to provide a site where patients could receive care from varying specialties.  After finding five colleagues who shared this same dream, he became a founding partner of Sunnybrook Multispecialty Medical Center in 1977.  He remained in private practice and saw over 22,000 patients until he became a pediatric provider for Wake Health Services Incorporated from January 1996 until June 2003.  He continued to be a mentor to many of his patients as they progressed through life. In July 2003 he joined the providers at Growing Child Pediatrics, Knightdale Site and remained there until June, 2010.

 Throughout his career, Dr. Burroughs advised, mentored and taught medical and health professional students in training and many pediatric residents as an adjunct clinical professor of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.  He was the first African American doctor to serve on the staff at Rex Hospital.

 In August 2003, he was the recipient of the David T. Tayloe, Sr. Award for Outstanding Community Service.  This award is the North Carolina Pediatric Society’s highest honor given to the pediatrician who has made exceptional contributions in his/her local community or statewide.

 The commitment to serve God was never overshadowed by his busy family and professional life.  He was an active member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Burlington, New Jersey, Spruce Street Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee, First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and currently First Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC. He contributed to the music departments of these churches, official boards, and other ministries.

 He sought to enrich his spiritual life further through participation in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), a multi-year course that has classes all over the United States and many foreign countries.

While living in Raleigh, Dr. Burroughs served in the Iota Iota Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and was blessed to see sixty-five years of membership in Omega Psi Phi.

 Some of his involvements included: Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the March of Dimes, member of the Governor’s Medical Scholarship Selection Committee of the University of North Carolina System, North Carolina Medical Society, American Academy of Pediatrics, North Carolina Pediatric Society, Boy Scouts Board of Directors, President of the L.A. Scruggs Medical Society, National Medical Association’s Preceptor ship Program, Shelley School Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of Dept. of Pediatrics of Wake County Medical Center, Wake County Medical Society Executive Committee, Secretary to Wake Medical Center’s  Medical Staff, Wake Health Services’ Task Force and Board of Directors, Capital Health Systems Agency Board of Directors, Saint Augustine’s’ College Board of Associates, Raleigh Hampton Alumni Association, Wake County Medical Society, NAACP,  Raleigh Oratorio Society, The United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, Governor’s Immunization Advisory Council, Advisory Board of Mechanics and Farmers Bank, and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

 A few awards are: Meharry Medical College’s Presidential Twenty-Five Year Award of Service to Humanity, Presidential Distinguished Service Award at Saint Augustine’s College, and Black Child Development Institute’s Appreciation for Efforts to Black Children in the area of Health, National Hampton Alumni Association Merit Award, 100 Black Men for Christ Community Service Award and presentation from the Town Council of Knightdale, North Carolina in recognition of his years of dedicated service to Knightdale, North Carolina.

 Dr. Burroughs was inducted into the City of Raleigh Hall of Fame on September 13, 2007 and was admitted as a Fellow in the American College of Pediatricians in 2008.  In February 2017 he was featured as the cover story of the summer issue of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity’s National Journal.  He was the 2017 Zollicoffer Lecturer at the School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in April 2017 from the UNC School of Medicine.

 In recent years, Dr. Burroughs enjoyed several book signings from the 2016 publishing of his autobiography, Sharing My Journey to a Career in Medicine in a Transitioning South (available at www.DrFredBurroughs.com and www.amazon.com).

 Along with his parents, Dr. Burroughs was predeceased by his older brother and sister, Nathaniel Hawthorne Burroughs and Sarah Jones Burroughs and his beloved grandson, Nicholas Van Loren (1989-2014). He leaves to cherish his memories his wonderful wife of 62 years, the former Geraldine Sandra Harris of Raleigh, as well as three adult children: Terrence Van Loren Burroughs (Terri), Kelvin Lynn Burroughs, and Angela Renee’ Burroughs; three grandchildren: DeJuan Scarborough, Katrice Burroughs (former wife of Nicholas), and Madeline Camille Burroughs. He is also survived by two sisters, Bessie Rosalee Burroughs and Alavan Dennis, and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted children and grandchildren. In memory of Dr. B, please consider giving to Hampton University, Meharry Medical College and/or the First Baptist Organ Fund in lieu of flowers. Here is more info about each option:

Hampton University:

Option # 1: Online www.givetohamptonu.org, click on the button labeled “give now”. Select whether they are making a one-time gift or a recurring gift. Complete the respective form. For the campaign, select “endowed scholarship/current-use."  In the comment section, indicate the “The Frederick Douglas Burroughs Scholarship.”
 

Option # 2: United States Postal Service. Please make your check payable to:

Hampton University
Office of Development
200 William R. Harvey Way
Hampton, Virginia 23668
In the comment section, indicate the “The Frederick Douglas Burroughs Scholarship.”

 Meharry Medical College:

Go to https://registration.mmc.edu/giving.html
Choose "Tribute Gift "
Select "In Memory of" and list Dr. Fred Burroughs

 First Baptist Organ Fund:

Go to http://www.raleighfirstbaptist.org/donations.html
Memo should be: Organ Fund, in memory of Dr. B.

 Family Visitation, Omega Ritual and Boule' Ritual from 3:00 - 5:00 PM Sunday August 25, 2019 at First Baptist Church, 101 S. Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC. (Omega Ritual and Boule' Ritual commence promptly at 4:00 PM)

Homegoing Celebration at 12:00 noon Monday August 26, 2019 at Springfield Baptist Church, 4309 Auburn Knightdale Road, Raleigh, NC preceded by an 11:00 AM visitation. Interment will follow at Carolina Biblical Gardens, 1530 Creech Road, Garner, NC. 

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