Jamey Duffey, 66, fighter pilot became a doctor
July 20, 2023
Benjamin Morrison Duffey of Murrells Inlet, a retired primary care physician, died July 15 with his wife by his side. He was 66.
Known as Jamey, he was born May 13, 1957, in Richmond, Va., the son of Benjamin R. and the late Margaret S. Duffey. He spent his early years enjoying the great outdoors, fly-fishing with his father and free ranging with his brother.
Upon graduating Old Dominion University with a degree in sociology, he served in the Air Force as a fighter pilot. He received a medical discharge and developed a lifelong fascination with medicine. He went on to attain his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School and complete his residency in emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins Shock Trauma Hospital in Baltimore.
Dr. Duffey moved to Myrtle Beach to start his career as an ER doctor at Grand Strand Hospital. He established himself as a permanent member of the community after opening Litchfield Medical Center in 1999.
He and his wife, DeAna, married in 2009 and raised her children, Savannah and Dylan, instilling in them his love of medicine and aviation.
He retired after 20 years as a primary care doctor. He loved to be free, with his favorite places being the sky and the open water. He spent his time off boating, flying, watching movies, fixing anything he saw that was broken and being attentive to his family.
While Dr. Duffey knew he was the smartest man in the room, his family said, he delighted in both sharing knowledge and gaining it from others. He had a personality outmatched in size only by his enormous heart, and he never left a creature in need whether it was human or animal.
In addition to his father, his wife and his stepchildren, he is survived by his stepmother, Suzanne Duffey; his brother, Peter Duffey; his sister, Mary Kerr; and his grandchildren Lily, Abraham, and Blair.
A celebration of his life will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Burroughs Funeral Home.
