Douglass Pemberton

Mr. Douglass "Doug" Patrick Pemberton was peacefully carried to heaven on the wings of his son and daughter, Wayne and Belinda, from his home in Biloxi on Tuesday, August 1, 2006. Douglass was blessed with 86 years and shared 63 years of marriage to his beloved wife, Gloria Cannette Pemberton. Mr. Pemberton was born to Henry and Daisy Pemberton on November 30, 1919 in Greenport, Long Island, New York. He made Biloxi, Mississippi his home in 1941 upon being stationed at Keesler Air Force Base. He served his country in the United States Air Force Band during World War II and the Korean Conflict. Doug began an extended music career as a self-taught musician and honed his talent for music and composing during his career in the Air Force Band. He was a graduated piano technician who tuned and repaired pianos for hundreds of families, schools, and churches throughout South Mississippi for fifty-two years. Doug and Gloria filled the Gulf Coast with music played by their trio, "Gloria and the Playmates" for thirty-five years. There was always music played and songs being sung wherever they were present, be it at weddings, conventions, local dances, in their own home, and many friend's homes. Douglass and his wife, Gloria were recently honored by receiving a Papal blessing for years of dedication and service since 1951 to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi, Mississippi. Douglass Pemberton was preceded in death by his parents, Hank and Daisy Pemberton, of Greenport, Long Island, New York; his siblings, Richard Pemberton, Sherrill Pemberton, his twin brother, Donald Pemberton, Lewis Pemberton, Gordon Pemberton, Josephine Pemberton Phelps, Audrey Pemberton, Bernice Pemberton Buse, Norm Pemberton Dalaker, and Merle Pemberton White; his beloved son, Wayne Douglass Pemberton; daughter, Belinda Pemberton Bogard, Son-in-laws, Robert Ray Bogard and Malcolm Keith Harmon; Nephew, Brock Pemberton, mother and father-in-law, Edward and Estella Cannette; sister and brother-in-law, Verna Mae Cannette Kuljis and Peter Kuljis, and brothers-in-law, Clyde George Cannette and Eugene Reid Cannette. He is survived by his beloved wife, Gloria Marie Cannette Pemberton; daughters, Penny Cannette Pemberton Spivey and Diedre Pemberton Harmon; son-in-law, Joel Spivey; grandchildren, Kaylen Spivey Tapper, Jason Scott Spivey, Belinda Jeanne Hood Tedesco, Wayne Douglass Pemberton, and Holly Lauren Pemberton; great grandchildren, Jordyn Paige Jeanne Hood, Chais Anthony Tapper, Deven Joel Tapper, Hannah Noelle Cecil, Tiffany Jessica Tedesco, and Lana Nicole Tedesco; a most dear former daughter-in-law, Sara Kennedy Pemberton Sidaway, and numerous nieces nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Mr. Pemberton was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Biloxi Elks Lodge #606, Gulf Coast Jazz Society, Musicians Union of New Orleans, New York and Missouri, and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to Quality Hospice, P. O. Box 549, Biloxi, MS 39533, or to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Retirement Home Fund, 2090 Pass Road, Biloxi, MS 39531. The Pass Road Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi is in charge of arrangements.