BURGAW — With deepest sorrow, we announce the passing of Naseem Hani Nasrallah, MD, a cherished husband and devoted father, granddad, brother, physician, and friend who left this world on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the age of 85.
Naseem was born in January 1940 in Kharaba, Syria, a predominantly Christian village that still today has fewer than 600 residents. Naseem was the oldest of 7 children and the only son. His father was a Southern Baptist pastor, so the family moved around to several churches throughout Syria and Jordan. Naseem grew up mostly in Karak, in the Moab area of Jordan. After he graduated from high school in Karak, he attended medical school at Cairo University in Egypt, and then went to work at Gilead Mission Hospital (now Al Iman Public Hospital) in Ajloun, Jordan.
Naseem married Hilda Ajailat on February 5, 1971 in Irbid, Jordan.
In the early 1970s, there was a lot of political unrest in and around Jordan. Eventually, Naseem and HIlda decided to leave their homeland to come to the United States. In June 1971, they came to North Carolina, where Naseem worked as a resident at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington and at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill to complete his medical training in general surgery. Naseem was Chief Surgical Resident at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in 1975-76. He became a member of the American Board of Surgery in 1978 and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1980.
Eventually they decided to stay in the US permanently. In 1976, they moved to Raceland, Louisiana, where he opened a clinic as a primary care physician and general surgeon. In 1989, they moved to Burgaw, North Carolina, where Naseem purchased the clinic that was then owned by Dr. John Dees.
Naseem served the Pender County community as a physician for 25 years before retiring in 2014. He saw patients at the Surgical Medical Clinic and cared for others at Pender Memorial Hospital and local nursing homes. Over the course of his career, he served as Chief of Staff at Pender Memorial three times, and he served several terms on the boards of both Pender Memorial Hospital and New Hanover Regional Medical Center. He also served for six years as the medical director of the Pender County Health Department. He was an active member of the local Rotary Club and a deacon at Burgaw Baptist Church.
Naseem and Hilda raised 5 children and sent them all to college here in North Carolina. He and Hilda were married for 54 years.
Dr. Nasrallah is survived by his beloved wife, Hilda Ajailat Nasrallah; children, Caroline Belk (Chris), Ruba Nasrallah, Hani Nasrallah (Maredith), Laura Doss (Jay), and Nicole Nasrallah; grandchildren, Maxwell Belk, Chloe Belk, Lily Belk, Alexander Doss, Sophia Doss, Arlo Nasrallah, and Edith Nasrallah; sisters, Naseemah Chadid (Bahij), Nabeeha Shadid, Nuhad Shadid, Nuha Taweel, Nabeela Eraifeg (Ramzi), and Nadia Shadid (Mousa); many nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.
The family will receive friends 5 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025 at Quinn McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Burgaw Baptist Church with Rev. Danny Justice and Rev. Ben Horrell conducting the service. Burial will follow in Burgaw Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made to Safe Haven of Pender or Burgaw Baptist Church (PO Box 385, Burgaw, NC 28425.)
Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family here.
