Roy Anthony "Tony" West

Roy Anthony “Tony” West, age 62, met Jesus face to face and heard the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” on Saturday, April 13, 2024. He was embraced by his wife, Mickie, and surrounded by his children and grandchildren with a host of loving friends present in his home in Florence, MS. His homegoing followed a four-year battle with prostate cancer that he fought ferociously and with great faith that was witnessed by many.

He was born, accompanied by his twin brother, Randy, on November 19, 1961, in Warner Robins, GA, to Hubert and Cecilia West. Tony is survived by his parents, his wife Mickie, his sons, their wives, and their children: Jonathan and Katelyn West and children Emerson, Abel, and Etta Roy West. Jacob and Lacey West and son Hudson West, and countless children in Haiti who were named “Tony” in honor of “Papa Tony,” who delivered them while he served there as a medical missionary. Tony is also survived by his siblings whom he loved dearly: Randy West, Lee West Vonder Haar, Bridgette West Herring, and Tracy West, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and dear friends.

Tony was revered by countless individuals world-wide because of the way he lived his life of sacrifice, sincerity, and service to God and others. His first calling in occupation was to be a nurse. After graduating from the University of Mississippi Medical Center with a B.S. in nursing, Tony went on to serve as a nurse at River Oaks Hospital and Rankin Medical Center. After receiving his Master’s degree from Mississippi College in Hospital Administration, he served as administrator of Heritage House Assisted Living Facility followed by the role of Clinical Director at Hospice Ministries. It was during his time at Hospice Ministries when he received a new calling upon his life to serve as a missionary to Haiti with But God Ministries. While serving in Haiti, Tony became the first international student to participate in the Nurse Practitioner Degree Program at Samford University. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Courage to Care Award from the Ida Moffett School of Nursing which is the highest award given in the School of Nursing at Samford University. This is given to a recipient who exemplifies the maxims for excellence set forth by its founder, Ida Moffett, including excellence in nursing, leadership that encourages self-confidence in others, leadership that does not tolerate mediocrity and insensitivity, demonstration of values through both words and actions, compassion through action even when it means sacrificing one’s own comfort and convenience, a servant’s heart, and responsibility for creating a caring environment, modeling the principle: “The patient first, the institution second, and self last.”  These qualities epitomize Tony West perfectly.

Tony and his wife Mickie sacrificed a great deal in their call to Haiti including leaving family, their oldest son who was in college, and uprooting their youngest son who was in high school. Tony left his well-paying job, his dream home that he and Mickie built themselves, his vehicles, his church, his state, his country, and the comforts of a developed country to serve the people in one of the poorest countries in the world. He was willing to leave behind his entire life and all he had ever known to share the love of Christ and minister to the least of these. For eight years, Tony poured his life into the lives of desperately poor Haitians of all ages with love, compassion and care. While tired, sleepy, hurting, frustrated, or completely exhausted, Tony shared the love of Christ over and over again. This side of heaven, we will never fully know the impact Tony has had in both Haiti and the U.S.

In 2019, Tony and Mickie returned to the U.S. not knowing they would be called to leave Haiti indefinitely. After realizing their stay in the states was going to last much longer than anticipated, Tony began serving as a nurse practitioner with Southern Medical Consultants ministering to countless patients in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. He quickly became a treasured care giver to many elderly individuals all over the state of Mississippi. Lastly, Tony helped form and open a wellness clinic in Flowood, MS, called Rapha Wellness Primary Care. Here, he served as Chief Operating Officer while continuing to serve patients as a nurse practitioner. Throughout each and every phase of Tony’s career, he exemplified a servant’s heart and shared the love of Christ. Tony prayed with every patient he ministered to, whether it be overseeing the medical care of patients in Mississippi, or dressing the wounds of patients who came to him for care in Haiti, he demonstrated perfectly the love of his Savior, Jesus Christ.

Tony’s legacy will live on forever through the many stories and memories shared with countless individuals who have been blessed to be a part of his story. He will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his servant’s heart, his love of adventure, and his compassion for others. He will also be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving and supportive father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. On the day of his homegoing, he wore his favorite shirt that expressed his heart most: “In my life I have been called many things, but the name I like most is PAPA.”

The Celebration of Life service for Tony West will be held at Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, MS, on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.  Visitation begins at 2:00 at Crossgates as well. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to But God Ministries.