Obituary of Henry Peter Joseph L'heureux, Jr., MD

Henry Peter Joseph L’heureux, Jr., MD, died peacefully at home in Chapel Hill, NC, on April 2, 2023.  He was born in Atlanta, GA, on November 2, 1929, the oldest child of Henry Peter Joseph L’heureux, Sr., and Thelma Love Gamble L’heureux.

He grew up in South Carolina and received his undergraduate degree from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. After US Army service in the Korean War, including 12 months as a prisoner of war, Henry married Margaret (Peggy) MacMillan, and they were happily married for 60 years until her death in 2014.  One of Henry’s friends observed that “he seemed to delight in Peggy in all things.”  After medical school at LSU, Henry practiced medicine in St. Petersburg, FL.  He and Peggy explored the small towns and by-ways of Florida away from the tourist spots.  They also embraced gardening, sailing, woodworking, fishing, cooking, and all things French.  When they retired to Carolina Meadows in 2011, Henry gave up his rose garden but read more books and worked jigsaw puzzles with devotion.  After Peggy’s death, he became friends with Ellen Small, another Carolina Meadows resident, and they enjoyed each other’s company, meals together, and Jeopardy.

Henry’s brother, James Edward L’heureux, died in 2019, and his sister Mary Love L’heureux Hammond died in 2020.  Henry is survived by his sister Elizabeth L’heureux Williams, his sister-in-law Dawn Perry L’heureux, and many devoted nieces and nephews.  Henry had a wonderful relationship with Peggy's family.  He and Peggy’s oldest brother, Dan, spoke and visited frequently but particularly in their later years.  Two of Peggy and Henry’s closest St. Petersburg friends noted Henry’s “wonderful intellect and …devotion to always doing the right thing without fanfare.”

One of Henry’s nieces was fortunate to have had breakfast with him every Saturday morning for years.  Their conversations spanned books, news from friends and relatives, nature shows on television, interesting flowers in Carolina Meadows, his woodworking projects, and his general engaged curiosity about the world.  Their political views were dissimilar, but they discussed politics with great civility, and they found a single point of political agreement in 2016.

Henry was a quiet, warm, and smart gentleman.  His friends and family will miss him deeply.

The family will have a small graveside service in Fayetteville, NC at the end of April.  Memorial gifts may be made to the Carolina Meadows Foundation’s Fund for Employees (Carolina Meadows, 100 Carolina Meadows, Chapel Hill, NC 27517).

Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill is assisting the family.