Obituary of Wayman Wendell Cheatham

Dr. Wayman Wendall Cheatham transitioned from this life on October 29, 2025. Dr. Cheatham was born on September 17, 1948 in Baltimore, MD. A viewing for Dr. Cheatham will be held on Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Vaughn Greene Funeral Services, 8728 Liberty Road Randallstown, MD 21133. On Thursday, November 20th, 2025, a homegoing celebration for Dr. Wayman Wendall Cheatham will be held at Southern Asian Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where the family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. with services to follow. The Interment will be held at The Garrison Forest VA Cemetery on Friday, November 21st, 2025 @ 10:45 a.m. Dr. Wayman Wendell Cheatham, a titan in American medical research, pharmaceutical development, and medical education, passed away on October 29, 2025, after courageously battling metastatic pancreatic cancer. Even in his final months, Dr. Cheatham maintained his unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of others, exemplifying the dedication to service that defined his 77 years of life. Early Life and Foundation Born on September 17, 1948, in Baltimore, Maryland, to William Lee and Laura Elizabeth Cheatham. Wendell was the youngest of eight children—two girls and six boys. His mother, father and siblings instilled in him a deep love, loyalty to God and family, and a commitment to serve others. Wendell would rise to become one of the most influential African American physician-researchers of his generation. Wendell's childhood was marked by challenges that became foundational strengths. When his mother Laura suffered from severe post-partum depression, his eldest sister Anna Belle stepped in to raise young Wendell for a time. Anna Belle, a formative educator, is credited with instilling his meticulous handwriting, mathematical acumen, and helping him overcome a severe stuttering problem through her counsel: "When you get stuck, hit the desk and keep speaking." His family's influence shaped not only his character but also foreshadowed his lifelong commitment to overcoming obstacles and helping others do the same. He attended Pine Forge Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school for Black students. At Pine Forge, Wendell distinguished himself as a four-year student, serving as Vice President of the Class of 1966 and graduating as Salutatorian. He participated actively in choir, ensemble, seminar club, and served as a photographer for the school's publication, "The Flame". It was at Pine Forge that Wendell found his life companion, captivated by the recently enrolled California "sun-kissed" junior, Shelley Azora DuBose in 1965. His deep connection to Pine Forge endured throughout his life. He later served on the school's Board of Trustees from 1984 to 1997 and as President of the National Pine Forge Academy Alumni Association from 1987 to 1990 and again from 1994 to 1997. Following his graduation in 1966, Wendell earned his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with a Biology minor from Columbia Union College (CUC), now Washington Adventist University, in 1970, and his Doctor of Medicine from The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at Pennsylvania State University in 1975. Wendell and Shelley joined hands in marriage Aug 16th, 1970, a few weeks after Wendell graduated from CUC. Their family happily grew over the years to include Adam Gregory (1972), Joseph Geoffery (1975), and Jonathan Lee (1979). Professional Achievement and Impact Dr. Cheatham's five-decade career spanned military medicine, academic research, pharmaceutical innovation, private practice, and federal service. After completing his internship at Brooke Army Medical Center and residency in Internal Medicine at Letterman Army Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident, he pursued fellowship training in Endocrinology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His military service (1975-1985) included assignments as Chief of Endocrinology Service at Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center in Germany and Assistant Chief of the Department of Clinical Investigation at Walter Reed, earning him the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and multiple military decorations to include the Meritorious Service Medal in 1982. Board certified in Internal Medicine (1978) and Endocrinology and Metabolism (1981), Dr. Cheatham held faculty positions at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Georgetown University, and Howard University. From 1985 to 1996, he maintained a private practice in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism in Takoma Park, Maryland, while serving as Chief of the Division of Endocrinology at Howard University Hospital. His transition to the pharmaceutical industry proved transformative. As Medical Director and later Vice President at Novo Nordisk, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and MannKind Corporation, Dr. Cheatham led the development and FDA approval of four groundbreaking medications that revolutionized diabetes treatment: two new insulin compounds and two novel oral anti-diabetic agents. His leadership directly improved and extended the lives of millions of patients worldwide. From 2008 to 2019, Dr. Cheatham served as Director of Research Administration and Special Assistant to the U.S. Navy Surgeon General for Clinical Investigation, leading research integrity and ethics initiatives across the entire Naval medical system. His scholarly contributions included 25 peer-reviewed publications cited over 3,250 times, a testament to the lasting impact of his research. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association, held leadership positions with The Endocrine Society, and served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Research Administration and the Journal of Diabetes and Metabolism. His mentorship and example inspired countless young physicians and researchers, particularly within the African American community, to pursue excellence in medicine and science. Community Service In his final years, Dr. Cheatham devoted himself to serving the underserved communities of west Baltimore through free healthcare clinics, dental and vision services, health education events, and tutoring programs for neighborhood children. He joined Messages of Hope International Ministries as Director of Comprehensive Healthcare, providing direct health education and physical care to hundreds of individuals. Even while battling cancer, he remained personally engaged in serving those in need, embodying the sacrificial compassion that characterized his entire life. Personal and Family life Wendell was a man who enjoyed spending time with those he loved. He relished fishing expeditions with Shelley, his sons, brothers, and friends. Whether in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Ocean City, Maryland, Canada, or the mountain streams of Nevada. These outings, rooted in his childhood time spent with his father and brothers, became cherished family traditions that shaped his children's understanding of presence and connection. Wendell was an accomplished gardener and cook, maintaining multiple gardens at home and at the Brinklow Seventh-day Adventist Garden Co-op. After each harvest, he would transform his crops into delicious meals, working the grill with practiced expertise. His legendary contraptions to defend his vegetables against persistent wildlife… the raccoons, deer, and groundhogs that seemed to show him grudging respect, became family lore. He enjoyed sailing, spending more time maintaining his sailboat on land than upon the water, yet cherishing the vessel's representation of freedom and escape from professional pressures. During his service in Germany (1980-1982), he planned road trips and vacations that gave his family treasured memories skiing in Sweden, visiting Christmas markets, and touring many iconic destinations such as Neuschwanstein Castle. Yet it was the simple moments that proved most memorable: cramped journeys in a blue Volkswagen Beetle through the Bavarian countryside, misadventures at Mont Saint-Michel where restaurants had closed before the family arrived, and improvised dinners of water crackers and pungent French cheese. His unpredictable timing, a running family joke, paradoxically created some of his children's most enduring memories. On his last birthday, celebrated on September 17th at home with his entire nuclear family present, Wendell declined traditional cake, requesting instead one of Shelley's apple pies made with Winesap apples from his own tree, the same variety his mother Laura had used decades before. This simple request spoke volumes: a man successful beyond measure in his professional life, yet forever grounded in the love, comfort, and traditions of family. Legacy Dr. Wayman Wendell Cheatham lived as a true trailblazer, an African American physician researcher who broke barriers and opened doors during an era when such achievements required not only extraordinary talent but also courage, perseverance, and grace. His impact on the United States health system, through his research leadership, clinical innovations, and policy influence, will be felt for generations. His compassion for patients, dedication to ethical research practices, and commitment to improving health equity have left an indelible mark on American medicine. His legacy extends from the medications that bear the mark of his scientific leadership to the research that continues to be cited by scholars worldwide, from the institutions he strengthened through his service to the countless patients whose lives were improved or extended through his work. His legacy extended into the quiet moments shared with loved ones—fishing expeditions, gardens tended, family vacations and reunions where the destination mattered less than the time spent together, and simple meals prepared with love and tradition. Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, William Lee Cheatham and Laura Elizabeth Cheatham, by his brothers William Jr. (Bill) and Augustus (Gus), and by his sister Anna Belle Cheatham Timpson. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Shelley Azora Cheatham, who stood by his side through his final battle with cancer and throughout their 55 years of marriage. He is survived by his sons (respective wives): Adam (MaryBeth), Joseph (Lorice), and Jonathan; his sister Merle; brothers Oliver (Beverly), Donald (Ann), Charles (Reather); grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives, and a broad circle of friends and colleagues. He now rests from his labors, having fought the good fight and finished his course with dignity and grace. Lieutenant Colonel Wayman Wendell Cheatham, M.D., FACE, you are dismissed! --- In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Pine Forge Academy in Dr. Cheatham's memory by going to www.pineforgeacademy.org.