Beverly Dubaz Romeo

Beverly Dubaz Romeo, a lifelong resident of Biloxi passed away on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023.

She was a Graduate of Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) in 1950, was Drum Majorette leading SHA’s first All Girl Kiltie Band 1947-1950, and served as Band Captain 1949-50;  was President of Town and Country Social Club in the 50’s; President of Bonne Vivantes Women’s Carnival Association and a Maid on Court of Les Joyeaux Men’s Carnival Association in the 60’s; was employed as Executive Secretary at the Buena Vista Hotel in its prime, and later became Reservations Manager at the Broadwater Beach Hotel.  Beverly was Executive Secretary at the Biloxi Housing Authority for a number of years before being promoted to Executive Director.

She served as President of the Mississippi Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (MAHRO) 1985-86 and was made a Life Member of MAHRO; was State Representative of Southeastern Conference of Housing and Redevelopment Officials in 1986; was a Member of National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials 1982-1991; she was named Outstanding Executive Director of the Year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1989 and retired as Executive Director of the Biloxi Housing Authority after 25 years of faithful service. She was named “Mother of the Year” by the Biloxi-East Harrison County Lions Club in 1989, a title of which she was most proud. She was a member of the Slavonian Ladies Auxiliary for the Slavonian Benevolent Association of which her father, John Dubaz, was a founding member; a member of Fleur de Lis Ladies Auxiliary (French Club), her mother, Cecile Andre having descended from French Arcadians (Cajuns) of New Iberia, La.

From 1957 to the present, she was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church where she served as a member of the PTA of Fatima School. She served on several Bazaar and Spring Fest Committees, was a CCD teacher, a Eucharistic Minister for many years on the Grievance Committee, and a member of the Legion of Mary.  She served as Rectora of the Catholic Women’s Cursillo of South Mississippi and served on numerous Cursillo Teams for many years.  Beverly also served as Director of Teenage Girls’ Catholic Retreat.

She was most happy when gathered for family dinners and gatherings of her entire family which she dearly loved.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, John E. Romeo; her parents, John and Cecile A Dubaz; brother, John B. (Alice B.) Dubaz; and sisters, Lucille Dubaz Griffey and Eunice Dubaz Phillips Conger.  She is survived by a son, Jason (Kerri) Romeo; daughters, Sandra Romeo Gaines, Debi Morgan, and Cilya (Brent) Boney; grandsons, John Daniel Gaines and Jon Paul Morgan; granddaughters, Leah (Dr. DJ Sewell) and Katy (Dr. Brady Hall); great grandchildren, Cilayne Marie, Shayne Roch, Sidney Rayne, and Chayni Grace Carson, Jayce Morgan, Gilbert Hall; and sisters, Lillian Pierce, and Martha Weaver.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 pm on Monday, December 4, 2023 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Friends are invited to visit one hour prior. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Beverly's name to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church or St Jude.

 

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family Beverly Dubaz Romeo.