Dr. Shelley C. "Pop" York, Jr.

Dr Shelley C York, Jr, “Pop”, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2020.  He was born in High Point , NC on December 1, 1927, the son of Shelley C York and Bertie D York.  Shelley graduated from High Point High School, and enrolled at Guilford College at the age of 16 and graduated at the age of 19.   He enrolled in and attended Medical School at the University of Maryland and graduated in 1951, at the age of 24.  From here, he enrolled at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) for his internship.  During this internship at MVC, he met the love of his life, Betsy Wiley.  The two married in Clarksville, VA in 1953. After marrying, they moved to Alaska where Shelley completed his military commitment as a Captain in the US Army.  Upon completion of his duty, he returned to MCV for his surgical training and graduated as Resident Surgeon in 1959.

After completing his surgery training, he and Betsy were recruited to set up his practice in Thomasville, where he joined the staff at Thomasville City Hospital.  He was the first surgeon in Thomasville, and became a very prominent surgical pioneer.  He along with Dr George Highsmith were instrumental in founding the second Intensive Care Unit in the state of North Carolina, behind Baptist Hospital.  They have the honor of having the Intensive Care Unit wing at Thomasville Medical Hospital named after them. He practiced medicine in Thomasville over 30 years until his retirement in 1993.

Surviving are Shelley C York III (Catherine) of High Point NC, John W York (Michelle) of Greenville SC; four grandchildren, Ben York (Caitlin) of Greensboro, NC, Shelley York Rickman (Matt) of High Point NC, Savannah York (Greenville SC), and Connor York (Greenville SC), and two great grandchildren Graham York (Greensboro, NC), and Davis Rickman (High Point NC), and one brother Tom York (Hilton Head SC). 

He is preceeded in death by his wife Betsy Wiley York, and daughter Sandra McDonald.  Due to Covid-19, a private family service will be held on July 12, 2020.  Memorials may be made to the organization of your choice in his memory.

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