Jeffrey Lee Giddens, M.D. passed away quietly on the evening of July 27, 2026, at his home surrounded by family after a brave and lengthy battle with cancer. Jeff was born on January 19, 1962 in Shreveport, Louisiana to the late Dr. William and Jacquelyn Brickler Giddens.
Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Natalie Bree Giddens, his daughter Evan (“Evie”) Key Giddens, both of Shreveport; and by a son, William Brickler Giddens of Costa Rica. He is also survived by his three sisters: Jennifer Giddens Glaser of New Orleans, Julia Giddens Wynn of Austin, TX, and Jacqueline Giddens Brinegar of Shreveport and their husbands Robert Glaser, Brent Wynn, and Charlie Brinegar; his two brothers: Joel William Giddens of Arlington, TN and James Brickler Giddens of Shreveport and their wives Lori Giddens and Claudia Giddens; mother- and father-in-law Vivian and Philip James of Atlanta, LA; aunt and uncle Susan and Gary Brickler of Folsom, CA; nieces Emmarose Glaser Donals of San Diego, CA, Emma Giddens of Bartlett, TN, and Catherine Brinegar of Shreveport; nephews Matthew Glaser of Ayampe, Ecuador, Alexander Glaser of New Orleans, Twain Glaser of Los Angeles, CA, Aaron Giddens of Lisle, IL, Ethan Giddens of San Diego, CA, James Oliver Giddens of Shreveport, Christopher Wynn of Austin, TX, and Alexander Brinegar of Shreveport; as well as many beloved cousins. He also leaves behind his “furry children,” dogs Wilbur, Zoë, and Manny.
Jeff graduated from Jesuit High School in Shreveport prior to attending Rhodes College in Memphis, TN where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology/Sociology. Following his time at Rhodes, Jeff attended Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA where he completed his MD. Following med school, Jeff completed his residency in Emergency Medicine in Miami, FL and New Orleans, LA. Jeff was board certified in Emergency Medicine and worked in ERs from New Orleans, to Bay St Louis, MS, Pensacola, FL, Taos, NM, and Shreveport, retiring from the VA Hospital in Shreveport following his diagnosis last fall. He was a member of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and a Fellow of both the American College of Emergency Medicine and the American Academy of Academic Emergency Medicine. It was in Shreveport that Jeff met and fell in love with an angel named Bree who became his wife in 2019. Bree stood by Jeff and supported him at every turn, spending the last eleven months of his life providing him with around-the-clock care as he valiantly fought cancer.
Jeff had a variety of interests and pursued adventure wherever he could. He was an excellent tennis player and always enjoyed watching the major tournaments. He received his SCUBA certification when he was in high school and went on many dive trips throughout his life. His love for the sea did not stop under the water; Jeff was an avid sailor, a trait he inherited from his father, Bill. He sailed at Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, Bay Waveland Yacht Club on the Mississippi coast, and on occasion at Davis Islands Yacht Club in Tampa, FL. Jeff and Bree also enjoyed lake-life, tooling around Caddo Lake (Jeems Bayou) and Lake Claiborne with their trusty hounds along for the ride (Wilbur the English Bulldog looked particularly dashing in his life jacket!). Beyond the water, Jeff had a passion for the skies, too. He was an accomplished pilot and enjoyed flying his Cirrus SR-22 airplane. He used his flight skills to help family members transport dogs to their new homes and to get from A to B when needed. Jeff also flew many missions with Pilots For Patients, a non-profit based in Monroe that coordinates volunteer pilots like Jeff—pilots who donate their time, fuel, and aircraft at no cost to the patients—to transport patients to distant treatment sites so that they can receive the care they can’t receive in their hometown. This was near and dear to Jeff’s heart. He often recalled one trip to fly a cancer patient from her small town in rural Arkansas to Houston to receive treatment at MD Anderson, treatment which led to her remission. He particularly recalled how she squealed with delight when they lifted off the runway and into the air, as it was the first time she had ever been in an airplane!
Jeff lived a very full life with great curiosity and creativity. He was an artist, a healer, and a life-long learner. He loved to read, loved history, loved music, playing the guitar, watering his plants, and good discourse. He was “the Dude.” He always maintained a quest for adventure whilst never failing to love, care for, and nurture those around him. He will be greatly missed by many.
A private interment will be held at First Presbyterian Church, where Jeff was a life-long member and served as an acolyte as a boy and a deacon as an adult. A memorial service and reception honoring Jeff’s life will be held for all family and friends on the Giddens family’s Ellerbe Road property on August 8, 2026 at 2:00 pm. Jeff’s brother, James will officiate this service and all are welcome to come celebrate Jeff’s life; please join us, dress comfortably, and bring your best memories of Jeff to share.
The family requests that any memorial donations be made in Jeff’s memory to Pilots for Patients (www.pilotsforpatients.org) or The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (www.cholangiocarcinoma.org).