Dr. Jerre Kelly Chambers, M.D. entered into eternal rest on March 22, 2015.
Born on January 17, 1940 in Bradley County, TN, he was the son of the late Gerhard Felker Chambers and Orene Wattenbarger Chambers. Jerre was the beloved husband of Elizabeth Walker Chambers and the father of Geoffrey Kelly Chambers (Caroline) and Kelly Elizabeth Chambers and the grandfather of Sage Skye Chambers. His parents and a brother, Gerhard Felker Chambers, Jr, preceded him in life eternal.
A man is often remembered for what he has done. If that is the case, then Jerre led a full life. He graduated from the University of South Carolina and went on to receive his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina, completing his internship in Ogden, Utah. He then served his country as a Captain in the United States Army Medical Corps in Vietnam. Jerre then completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC and a retina fellowship at Montefiore Hospital in New York. An American Board Certified Ophthalmologist, Jerre then served at the Medical University of SC from 1973-1990 during which time he made many significant contributions to the field of Ophthalmology in diabetes research. He was the Chief of Retina Service, Director of Student Medical Education, and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Storm Eye Institute located at the Medical University of SC.
His research was published in numerous medical journals. He was a member of many professional organizations including the Atlantic Coast Fluorescein Club and was a past president of the Charleston Ophthalmologic Society. Among his many professional accomplishments, Jerre was the first physician in the United States to treat neo vascular glaucoma with implantations. He also introduced new and highly successful vitreous surgical and tunable dye laser techniques to the science of Ophthalmology. As the Director of the Ocular Electro-Physiology Laboratory, he was the first in the Southeast to offer the electro-retinogram, electro-oculogram, AB Ultra-sonography and other new procedures and techniques designed to diagnose and treat diseases of the eye.
All this being said, Jerre Chambers will not be remembered most for what he did, but rather for who he was. He was a devoted husband and father, a gentle grandfather, a loving son, brother and friend. His Christian faith was nurtured for many years at North Charleston United Methodist Church and later at Hibben United Methodist Church where his informative Sunday school lessons were remembered. He lived a dignified and courageous life, aided by a rich inner life fed by his joy of teaching, farming, hunting, fishing, music and dogs. Among his many personal accomplishments, Jerre was very proud of his Guggenheim Award for Excellence in trumpet performance bestowed upon him at the Gibbes Museum of Art.
Jerre Chambers loved his family and friends. He reflected his faith to his son Geoffrey and daughter Kelly through word and deed. He held in high regard his German exchange student, Isabelle Schmitt Ridder, visiting her in Germany and enjoying her company when she returned to Mt. Pleasant.
Blessed with a humorous dry wit and many varied personal interests, Jerre loved tending his farm in Clarendon County. He was a Master Tree Farmer and could be seen at times atop his John Deere tractor with one of his dogs riding alongside in a special compartment that he custom-built to accommodate his companion.
Jerre liked to travel with Betsy and together they explored locales all over the world creating indelible memories. Even though he courageously battled illnesses for the last five years, Jerre maintained his enthusiasm for travel, making the trip to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas for treatment driving an RV and then heading with Betsy and “Bizzie” to California to visit daughter Kelly through Arizona and New Mexico and back home through Utah and other great states. Jerre’s adventurous nature was strong even as he entered his final earth-bound moments. Indeed, during his last week of mortal life, he stated that he wanted to travel again. Surely the Lord was working with his spirit, preparing Jerre for the ultimate journey soon to come. Jerre has now traveled to that place where there are endless vistas and to the land where vision for all its inhabitants has been fully restored for all eternity.
Visitation will be at Stuhr Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, SC from 5-7 p.m. on March 27. A service celebrating the life of Jerre will take place on March 28 at 11 a.m. at North Charleston United Methodist Church, North Charleston, SC, officiated by Rev. Kathryn Hunter. Burial with full military honors will take place at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Summerton, SC, officiated by Rev. Jean McGraw and directed by Stephens Funeral Home of Manning, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Charleston United Methodist Church, 1125 East Montague Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405, Hibben United Methodist Church, 690 Coleman Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant SC 29464 or the W.W. Walker Scholarship Foundation, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424.
Messages of remembrance may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.stephensfuneralhome.org.
Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church St., Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org
