George Joseph Nassar passed away peacefully in his home in Greenwood on September 20, 2013 after a brief illness. He was born in San Marcos, Texas and attended medical school at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon where he met and married Carmen, the love of his life, who would become his soul mate for over 63 years. After completing his residency in obstetrics and gynecology in Richmond, Virginia, he was stationed at the Greenwood, Mississippi Army Air Base as the Physician in Charge. George and Carmen fell in love with Greenwood and decided to stay and establish his private medical practice there in 1950. During his more than 45 years of practice, Dr. Nassar was adored and respected by all of his patients for his caring and compassionate ways as well as for his exemplary bedside manner. He served as Chief of Staff at the Greenwood-Leflore Hospital twice, in 1960 and again in 1980. At the very beginning of what would become an extremely busy practice, it was said that Dr. Nassar delivered half the babies in Greenwood. A devout member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, he lived his faith through his practice as well as through his charitable work; notably his support as well as hands on provision of medical care for all those in need at the St. Francis Mission in Greenwood.
George always looked forward to playing golf with his group of close friends at the Greenwood Country Club, where he became famous for his double or nothing bets on the 18th hole. Betting was a favorite pastime of his. If he wasn't playing black jack or poker in Las Vegas at the casinos during his medical seminars; he was having fun betting with his buddies on games during the football season. Fishing with son George, Jr. was one of his passions. More than one tale was spun about the size of the fish that got away during those memorable trips. His love for the stock market and the world of finance was no secret to all of those who knew him. He always prided himself in knowing how to pick winning stocks. Most of all, George looked forward to the annual summer vacations when he took a well-deserved break from his demanding practice to travel all over Central America, Europe and the Middle East. Those trips with his wife and three children remained one of the highlights of his life. His 9 grandchildren were what kept him going, from golf games they accompanied him on, to trips to the lake; they could hardly wait to see what fun their Deeda would plan next for them.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carmen, and is survived by two daughters, Carmen Carson of Carmel, Ind., and her husband Bill; and Monique Beals of Memphis and her husband, Neil; a son, George Jr. of Memphis, and his wife, Nayla; and nine grandchildren: Natasha Nassar Hazlett and her husband, Richard, George J. Nassar III, Ellis Carson and his wife Katie, Courtney Carson and his wife Jo, Carmen III and Christina Carson, as well as Nicholas, Monique and Christopher Beals, and a sister, Margaret Daniel of New York.
Visitation will take place from 10 am to 11 am on Wednesday September 25th at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Greenwood and will be followed by a Celebration of Life service at 11 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church (Dr. & Mrs. George Nassar Memorial Fund) in Greenwood or to a charity of the donor's choice.Wilson & Knight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.