Dr. Chudy N. Okoye, MD

Live Streaming Link

Obituary Program Link

Dr. Chudy N. Okoye, MD, 83, of Kennesaw, GA, formerly of Selma, AL, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 11:00am at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Selma, AL. Interment will follow at New Live Oak Cemetery with Aubrey Larkin's Lewis Brothers Funeral Home of Selma serving with excellence through professional service. Per the family's request, there will be no public viewing. 

After the passing of his son, Ikechukwu (“Ike”) Peter Okoye (1971 – 1995), every month Dr. Okoye picked three special charities to donate to in Ike’s honor. The family will continue this sacred tradition on behalf of Dr. Okoye and Ike through the Chudy Okoye Memorial Fund. In lieu of flowers, food or other gifts, please consider donating to the Memorial Fund at this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DNTA9677ZS28N

Dr. Okoye lived an incredible life, and touched the lives of so many along the way. Anyone who has a special memory of Dr. Okoye is invited to share it by sending a message to the following email address: memories.of.dr.c.n.okoye@gmail.com. Please be sure to include your name in the message.

Dr. Chudy Nathaniel Okoye, MD, Obi Udogu of Ezenwajiaku Ezeagha Royal Family of Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria, was the son of Joshua & Janet Okoye. His siblings included Joyce Ebelechukwu Okoye and Bessie Chinazor Okafor.

The life of Dr. Okoye was a testament to the power of compassion, the pursuit of excellence, and unwavering faith. His journey from Nnewi, Nigeria, to the heart of Alabama's Black Belt region exemplified the transformative impact one person can have when they choose to lead with love and serve without limits.

Born in Nnewi, a town renowned for producing industrious and brilliant minds, Dr. Okoye distinguished himself early as an exceptional student. In the 1960s, when an American organization administered a competitive examination across Africa, only the top 10% of candidates were offered scholarships to study in the United States. Dr. Okoye was among that elite group, a testament to his intellectual prowess and dedication to academic excellence.

His scholarship brought him to Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he would not only excel academically but also meet the love of his life. Sheila, a brilliant young woman from Malawi who had also scored in the top 10% of that same continental examination, was studying at Spelman College across the street. Their meeting was serendipitous, their courtship legendary among friends, and their partnership would become the foundation of a remarkable family legacy.

After graduating from Morehouse, Dr. Okoye gained admission to Emory Medical School as only the third Black student accepted, just five years after the institution had infamously denied admission to Hamilton Holmes based solely on race. Financial barriers threatened to derail his medical education until an extraordinary act of generosity changed everything. A Catholic priest, despite having taken a vow of poverty, provided the funds needed for Dr. Okoye's first semester. This profound act of kindness would shape Dr. Okoye's philosophy of paying grace forward throughout his life.

Dr. Okoye graduated near the top of his medical school class and married Sheila, beginning a partnership that would span decades and touch countless lives. Together, they raised their children—Chudy, Ike (1971 – 1995), Monique, and Gloria —creating a home filled with love, laughter, and endless generosity for others.

The couple eventually settled in Selma, Alabama, as part of a rural health initiative, where they would plant deep roots and serve the community for over four decades. Dr. Okoye practiced medicine in Selma for 42 years, embodying the highest ideals of the medical profession. He served not merely as a physician but as a healer in the fullest sense—a board-certified general surgeon who also provided primary care, served as a jail physician, and became the community's unofficial therapist, life coach, and source of encouragement.

His dedication to his patients was legendary. Dr. Okoye loved his work so deeply that he rarely needed an alarm clock, approaching each day with enthusiasm and purpose. He was particularly moved when inmates would express their hope that he would be their "free-world doctor" upon release—a wish he would have gladly honored if possible.

Dr. and Mrs. Okoye's home was a sanctuary of hospitality and generosity. They regularly sponsored family members' immigration to America, provided refuge for friends in need, and opened their doors to cousins, extended family, and anyone requiring support. Their belief that love should be shared and opportunity multiplied made their home a beacon of hope for many.

Throughout their journey, the Okoyes faced racism and discrimination—in Atlanta, in Selma, and sometimes even from those who shared their heritage. Yet they never allowed bitterness to take root. Instead, they chose to lead with love, maintaining their conviction that every person deserves dignity and respect. This philosophy became the cornerstone of their lives, their marriage, and the legacy they left behind.

In his later years, Dr. Okoye had the joy of watching his grandson, Ike, grow under his guidance. The bond between grandfather and grandson was profound, with Dr. Okoye's quiet dignity, sharp intellect, and deep compassion shaping the young man's character in immeasurable ways.

Even in his final years, Dr. Okoye remained true to his nature—curious, kind, faithful, and possessed of a quiet strength that inspired all who knew him. His life was characterized by impossible beginnings that led to unstoppable grace, touching countless lives through his medical practice, his mentorship, and his example of how to live with purpose and love without limits.

Dr. Okoye's legacy lives on in the lives he saved, the hearts he touched, and the example he set for future generations. His story reminds us that the measure of a life is not in its length, but in its light—and Dr. Okoye's light will continue to shine through all those who were blessed to know him.

His life teaches us to lead with love, especially when it's difficult; to offer kindness without keeping score; to stand firm in our convictions while remaining tender in our hearts; to open our doors and share our tables; to pursue excellence not for recognition, but because others depend on us; and when the world says "you can't," to show up early with determination and say, "I'm already here."

Dr. Okoye's remarkable journey exemplifies the American dream realized through hard work, faith, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide all who follow in his footsteps.

Dr. Okoye is survived by his wife, Sheila, his children Chudy (DeShonn), Monique, and Gloria, his grandchildren Ike, Cecily, Simone, Sydney, and Kezmond, and many other cherished family members and loved ones.