Dr. William C. Young

Dr. William Cheung Young Jr., 62, of Jonesboro, died Friday at St. Bernard’s Medical Center.

Born and raised in Helena, he was one of six children of William C. Young Sr. and May Young, and graduated from Helena Central High School. After earning a bachelor's degree in Zoology from the University of Tennessee, he earned a M.D. Degree from the .University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, serving an internship in Little Rock, followed by a residency in head and neck surgery at the University of Texas, San Antonio.
Dr. Young moved to Jonesboro and established Otolaryngology and Facial Surgery Centre as a solo medical practice in 1980. After six years, he added his first partner, and over the last two and a half decades, the practice grew to include a total of six physicians.

A member of the St. Bernard’s Medical staff, he served in numerous leadership roles at St. Bernard’s, chairing various committees and groups and serving on many committees.

He also served on the boards of St. Bernard’s Healthcare Associated Regional Providers (SHARP), Inc., the St. Bernard’s Development Foundation, Outpatient Surgery Center of Jonesboro and served as president of HMG [Healthcare Medical Group), an organization he was instrumental in establishing a group of independent physicians that believed in providing the highest quality of care to every patient in NEA.

He was an original bank board member of The First Bank of Arkansas. He also served on Liberty Bank of Arkansas’s bank Board of Directors, and served as the chairman of the trust committee for Liberty Bank.
He was passionate about helping people and giving back to the community and was a champion of health care access for all. A longtime Rotarian and member of the Rotary Club of Jonesboro, he was instrumental in the development of the Rotary's very successful Sports Show, the club’s primary fund-raising event held every February at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center.

He was convinced Jonesboro was a great place to live and that the community had uncommonly good health and fitness businesses, programs and services, and he was a key player in the creation of the HMG Health & Fitness Expo, the largest health and fitness event in the region. This year marked the fifth year for the Expo.
He received numerous awards over the years: In 2008, Dr. Young was recognized by the St. Bernard’s Development Foundation for his selfless support of St. Bernard’s as the honoree at the Evening of Music. And in December physicians at St. Bernard’s honored him as the recipient of the Living the Mission Physician Award as a physician who lives the mission of St. Bernard’s providing Christ-like healing to the community through education, treatment and health services. A member of First United Methodist Church, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and cooking.


Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Rosie Young of the home; a son, Ryan Young of Jonesboro; his mother, May Young of Memphis, Tennessee, Four sisters, Wilma Tom and her husband Robert of Memphis; Paula Yee and her husband Edwin of Pensacola; Fla., Gail Gilbertsen and her husband Tom of Orange, California, Debbie Young and her husband Neil of Los Angeles, California, brother, Dr. Jerry Young and his wife Glenda of Jonesboro. Thirteen nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his Father, William C. Young Sr.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M. Thursday May 10, at the First United Methodist Church, with Rev. John Miles officiating. Burial will be at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery, with Emerson Funeral Home in charge.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Wednesday May 9, at Emerson Memorial Chapel.

Active pallbearers will be Dr. John Jiu, Dr. Hugh Sales, Dr. David Lewis, Dr. Gary Woodward, Dr. Shane Smith, Dr. Jerry Young, Dr. J. Cranfill, Dr. Bobby Lawrence, Glen Lovett, Phillip Wells, Dr. Mike Prince, Dr. Clay Moseley, Dr. Joe Stainton and Al Heringer III.

Honorary pallbearers will be Liberty Bank Board of Directors, Employees of St. Bernard’s Hospital, members of Chase Wood Hunting Club, members of the Denton Island Hunting Club, Dr. Jeffery Cohen, Dr. John Lynch, Dr. Robert Stainton and Jim Lyons.

Family requests in liu of flowers, memorials be made to the St Bernards Development Foundation, 400 East Street Jonesboro, AR 72401,www.stbernardsfoundation.org,870.972.4565; First United Methodist Church, 801 S. Main St. Jonesboro,72401,www.fumcjonesboro.org ; or the charity of your choice, in loving memory of Dr. William C. Young.