Dr. Wiley Hutchins

DR. WILEY HUTCHINS

Dr. Wiley C. Hutchins of Columbus, MS died Sunday, January 31, 2021, at his home.

Born on September 19, 1931, in Charleston, MS to Harold Hammond Hutchins and Eleanor Robinson Hutchins, Wiley graduated from Charleston High School in 1949.  He then enrolled at the University of Mississippi in Oxford where he joined Sigma Nu fraternity, twice serving as its Commander.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953 and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science.

Wiley married the love of his life, Mary Janice Morris of Macon, MS, in November 1953, and shortly thereafter, he entered in the U.S. Air Force as a first lieutenant.  For most of his service, Wiley was stationed at Nouasseur Air Base in Casablanca, French Morocco, North Africa.  He was discharged from the Air Force in late 1955, and resumed his education.

Wiley received his medical degree in 1960 from the University of Mississippi Medical Center at Jackson, and while there, he served as student body president.  Wiley continued his medical training in Memphis, first as an intern at the City of Memphis Hospital and then as a general surgery resident at the Kennedy VA Hospital.  He completed his training with a three year fellowship in orthopaedic surgery at The Campbell Foundation.  He remained at the Campbell Clinic first as a member of the staff and subsequently as a partner.  Wiley served as orthopaedic consultant to the Memphis State University Athletic teams and to the Liberty Bowl.

In June of 1977, Wiley and his family moved to Columbus, MS, where he founded the Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic, P.A.  Soon thereafter, he became the team orthopaedist for the Mississippi State University athletic teams.  He retired from the practice of medicine in 1996.

All of Wiley’s professional and community activities are too numerous to list, but included serving as president of the Mississippi Orthopaedic Society and as the Mississippi Representative on the Board of Councillors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.  He was also an advisory member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and a contributor to the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation.  In Columbus, Wiley was a member of the Columbus Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow.  In 1996, Wiley was selected as King of Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball.  He served on the Boards of Directors for Heritage Academy, First Columbus National Bank, and the Friends of the Library.

In his free time, Wiley stayed busy landscaping his yard and gardens or working and hunting on the farm he shared with his son.  Most of all, Wiley loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them whether at home or traveling.  Wiley never met a stranger and he will be remembered by many for his baby blue eyes, beautiful smile, penchant for sweets and his never-ending generosity with his time and talents.

Wiley was a member of the Church of Christ, but most recently attended First United Methodist Church in Columbus, MS.

Wiley was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Janice, and his son, Jeffrey Stovall Hutchins.  He is survived by three children:  W. Carter Hutchins, Jr. (Patricia), Lauren J. Hutchins, and Leslie Hutchins Kennedy (Jody), all of Columbus, MS; four grandchildren:  Amy Beaty (Eric) of Memphis, TN, Cindy Krutz (Bryan) of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, Wiley C. Hutchins, III (Courtney) of Columbus, MS, and Bryce Kennedy of Columbus, MS; and seven great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his devoted caregivers, Lucille Cattladge, Tammy Buchanan, Rosa Lee, Elaine Smith, and Donna Merritt.

Graveside services will be Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Friendship Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Wiley Hutchins, III, Bryce Kennedy, Todd Gale, Strat Karatassos, Rusty Linton, and Louis Sharp.  Honorary pallbearers are:  Mike Batson, Jimmy Davis, Bill Gillespie, Jim Mauldin, Ralph McLain, Larry Morris, Hilary Hunt, Billy Phillips, Bud Phillips, Jack Reed, Charlie Rhea, Walt Starr, Si Thomas, Jim Winslow, Tom Whitaker, James Woodard, and Houston Hardy.

Memorials may be made to The Good Samaritan Medical Clinic, P.O. Box 661, Columbus, MS 39703; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the charity of your choice.