03/16/2026
James Perry Fields
James Perry Fields, M.D., of Nashville, TN, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 28, 2026, at the age of 93 years and 7 months. He was born on July 30, 1932, in Sherman, Texas, to Alma Frances (Goff) Fields and John Galloway Fields. He was their only child, and spent all his early years there, with humble means and loving parents. Determined to make his parents proud, he was the first in his family to attend college. He attended Lamar College, in Beaumont. TX, then graduated magna cm laude from the University of Texas College of Pharmacy, Austin, where he was inducted into the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society and among other awards, received a scholarship for having attained the highest scholastic average in his graduating class. He worked late nights as a switchboard operator/night watchman, late and weekend night shifts and as a teletype operator on weekend day shift, for the Texas Department of Public Safety Headquarters, Camp Mabry, Austin, TX. He earned his Master of Science from the Graduate School, majoring in Pharmacology, and was awarded a Gold Medal for The Advancement of Pharmaceutical Science as a medical student at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch, in Galveston, during which time he also served as a Teaching Fellow in Pharmacology, and worked as a pharmacist in his spare time. While serving a summer Research Fellowship in Galveston, he met Linda Hensley, who would later become his wife. They met singing in the choir at the Methodist Church, and singing was a life-long activity that brought him much joy. Upon Graduation from medical school, Jim entered the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). He completed an internship at the USPHS Hospital at Carville, LA, before transferring to the USPHS Hospital in Staten Island, NY. He was assigned to Temporary Duty aboard Coast Guard helicopters; escorting patients being transferred to facilities in another states. He was assigned Sea Duty as Ship’s Medical Officer abord a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter on patrol, based at Ocean Station Charlie, in the North Atlantic, for which he received the US Coast Guard Commendation “For Exemplary Performance of Duty”. He completed his Dermatology Residency, Fellowship, and post-graduate courses in Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Radiation Physics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons-Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, NY. He completed Fellowships in Allergy and Immunology and Clinical Immunology at the USPHS Hospital on Staten Island, and Dermatopathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, in Washington, DC. He studied leprosy at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London, England. He was board-certified in Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Allergy and Immunology and was considered one of the nation’s foremost leprologists. He cared for many people affected by Leprosy, and one of the first things he did when meeting them was shake their hand. He touched them. He showed them that this is how Christ loves, and they had nothing to fear. It was not uncommon for patients and their families to be guests in his family’s home. During the last 14 and ½ years of his tenure with the USPHS, he served as Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, then Chief of the Department of Dermatology. He was simultaneously the Allergist in Charge of Adult Allergy, and, became the Founding Faculty of the USPHS Physician Assistant School.While performing these duties at the USPHS Hospital, he was appointed Clinical Faculty Assistant in Dermatology and Pathology and was a Clinical Preceptor for medical students at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, NY. He became Associate Attending Dermatologist and part-time Dermatopathologist at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, and a Dermatology Consultant for Carmel Richmond Nursing Home on Staten Island. Upon retirement after 21 years with the USPHS, he had achieved the rank of Captain 06 (Naval Rank). He received a Presidential Citation for Meritorious Service presented by the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, in recognition of the establishment of a multidrug treatment program for patients affected by Leprosy, rendering them non-contagious in 3 days, the USPHS Meritorious Service Honor Medal and Citation “For Sustained Innovative and Dedicated Service as a Clinician, Educator, and Researcher,” the USPHS Award for Excellence in Clinical Research, and Commendation from the Borough President of Staten Island “For Outstanding Performance of Duty as a Skilled Medical Practitioner and for Involvement in the Community.” Together with his wife, he received the American Legion Community Service Award “For Sustained Work with the Resettlement and assimilation of more than 50 refugees.” The driving force propelling him into service was always love.While his work ethic and accomplishments are many, he delighted in his family. He married Linda Lou Hensley and she remained his bride, and he her groom for 61 years. He found great joy in their son, Tim, and their daughter, Amy.After retirement from the USPHS, the family moved to Nashville, TN where he joined the academic tenured faculty at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and contributed to the formation and sustainment of a Dermatology Residency Program in the Department of Medicine. As the Director of Dermatopathology, he established the Vanderbilt Dermatopathology Service and mentored both dermatology and pathology residents.After 9 ½ years with Vanderbilt, he entered private practice in Dermatology, Cutaneous (skin) allergy, MOHS Micrographic / Reconstructive Skin Cancer Surgery, and Dermatopathology, for another 25 years. He has been a member of many professional boards, authored and contributed to numerous publications, and presented over 70 scientific, international, national and in-state presentations. He maintained his pharmacy license in more than one state and maintained his medical license until 2023, when he finally decided he was really and truly retired.He always found time to volunteer. He served as President of the Association of Military Dermatologists, has been a volunteer member of the Board of Directors or Medical Program Consultant for the American Leprosy Missions, Inc., for 40 years, a member of the Board of Governors of the American Registry of Pathology for 25 years, and an active member and officer in the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission for 23 years.For 20 consecutive years, Dr. and Mrs. Fields coordinated and participated in annual comprehensive medical, surgical, dental, and educational teams in four underserved countries, treating from 5,000-7,000 people and sharing the Gospel during each two-week mission. He established a medical library in St. Vincent, West Indies. Jim and Linda were instrumental in helping local health care personnel in the organization and development of a Missionary Health Care Ministry for those living in the impoverished regions of Brazil. They were instrumental in bringing nine persons from developing countries to the U.S. for lifesaving, or life-changing surgeries not available in their countries. He gave of his time and skill caring for those receiving care at faith-based clinics, and has provided medical assistance for refugees from Myanmar, who attend The Golden Triangle Congregation at Belmont United Methodist Church. He received The Good Samaritan Award in Medicine from the Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Physicians “For Three Decades of Dedicated Volunteer Service to Assist Persons with Leprosy, Refugee Assimilation into the United States, and Volunteer medical care to the Disadvantaged Populations.”In 2020, Dr. Fields was awarded the Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, for “Outstanding service to the Medical Professional and to Humanity.”It was apparent to all, that he loved and served Christ, by the way he lived his life. He did not squander his gifts or anything that God provided and actively sought out those in need, purposing to meet those needs, becoming the hands and feet of Christ. Of all that can be said about Jim and his accomplishments, the greatest accolade is that he LOVED. He loved life. He loved what he did, He loved others as himself and he truly loved and served the Lord with dedication and humility.He was preceded in death by his parents, John Galloway and Alma Frances (Goff) Fields, his wife, Linda Hensley Fields, and grandson, Isaac Walden Harness. He is survived by his two children Timothy Austin Fields (Jo) of Nashville, TN, and Amy Elizabeth Fields Buxton (Patrick), of Lawrenceburg, KY, granddaughter, Kelsey Fields Caddell (Corey) of Nashville, TN, grandsons, Jesse Robert Harness of Knoxville, TN, and Stephan Perry Harness (Hannah) and great-granddaughter, Vivian Anne Harness of Coventry, RI.A Celebration of Life will be held at Belmont United Methodist Church at 1:00 PM Central Time on March 21st at Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, with visitation afterward. The Celebration will be livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube, and the Church’s website: https://www.facebook.com/BelmontUMC.Nashvillehttps://www.youtube.com/://www.belmontumc.org/Internment with military honors will be at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Pegram, TN on March 23rd at 11:00 AM.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN, United Methodist Volunteers In Mission, Hope Rises International, or any organization dedicated to Alzheimer's Disease research.
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