Syndicated columnist, humorist and author Lewis Grizzard died Sunday at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta from complications following open heart surgery.
Grizzard, 47, had suffered what cardiologist Dr. Randy Martin said was extensive brain damage following the nine-hour operation Friday to remove a mass from his aorta and replace a faulty heart valve. Grizzard never regained consciousness.Martin said doctors maintained a vigil in the event that his condition improved.
"Evaluation this morning, however, showed that there was absolutely no brain activity and so, in accordance with his wishes, we allowed him to peacefully die at 10:45," said Martin.
Grizzard, who underwent three previous major operations in the past 12 years to correct a degenerative heart problem from birth, had left a living will requesting his life not be prolonged by life support in the event that he suffered massive brain damage.
Grizzard had married his fourth wife, Dedra Kyle, on Wednesday in a ceremony at Emory University Hospital where he had been admitted earlier in the week.
Martin said Grizzard was aware that his chance for surviving the delicate operation was 50-50.
Grizzard's Southern, down-home wit was made popular through his newspaper column syndicated to 450 newspapers, 19 books he authored and several audio cassettes of his public appearances.
Grizzard began his career in 1965 at age 19 as sports editor of the Athens Daily News in Georgia.