Dr. Lawrence Francis Chenier, III, M.D.

Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Francis Chenier III, native New Orleanian and resident of Vicksburg, Mississippi, left this physical earth and entered eternal rest on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at the age of 72. Larry is preceded in death by his father, Lawrence F. Chenier II; sister Michelle “Mickey” Chenier; and grandparents Lawrence “Count” F. Chenier I and Lydia Victor Chenier. He is survived by his mother Germaine Walton Chenier; daughters, Leah Chenier Brown (Aaron) and Shira Chenier, son Matthew Avery; sister and brothers, Cindy Major (Lionel), Troy Chenier (Keeanya), and Kenny Chenier (LaJuana); uncle, Ronald Chenier; fianceé Debra Whitney; bonus daughters Shon, Jessica, and Sabrina Whitney; mother of Leah and Shira, Sharon Chenier; and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Larry was born on January 17, 1953 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a lifelong academic achiever and graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1971 as Class Valedictorian. Larry attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Med and Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1980, where he received his Doctor of Medicine professional degree. He later relocated to Vicksburg, Mississippi and commuted to Madison Parish Hospital in Tallulah, Louisiana where he dedicated 45 years of service as an esteemed Emergency Medicine Physician and operated his own private practice. Known affectionately as Dr. Chenier and “Doc,” he is remembered as “a cornerstone of the hospital and the community, offering compassionate care and unwavering commitment to his patients throughout his remarkable career.” As one of the primary physicians in the only hospital in the area, Dr. Chenier served Tallulah’s predominantly Black community with dignity and generosity, often providing care to those in need regardless of insurance or financial status.

“Larry,” “Pops,” “The Godfather,” “Uncle Larry” was the leader of his family, taking upon responsibility as the eldest sibling following his father’s passing in 1997. He religiously lent his guidance, support, love and prayer to his loved ones and regularly visited his mother and siblings in New Orleans over his favorite Creole seafood dishes and attended the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Larry loved R&B and jazz music, especially Stevie Wonder, Aaron Neville, Lionel Richie, and Earth, Wind, & Fire. He enjoyed cooking, dabbling in art such as window/glass painting, reading his large assortment of books, and watching a diversity of movies/TV series that he loved to discuss with his family. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, patients, colleagues, and community.

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