Community Members Write Commemorative D-B Band Centennial Book that Includes Douglass

 

The special projects and history committees that created the centennial book. (From left to right_ Polk Chandler, Andy Barnes, Jeff Fleming, Calvin Sneed, Frances Cottrell Claytor, Gail Campbell, John Campbell, Peter Lodal, Susan Lodal and Jed Garvey.

KINGSPORT — Several Kingsport community members worked together over the past year on a special project.

While they have differences in background, careers and age, they all have a common connection: the Dobyns-Bennett High School band. Whether band alum, band parents, band staff or simply supporters, these individuals came together to create a book remembering 100 years of the D-B band.

Susan Lodal was one member of the special projects committee tasked with writing the centennial book. She previously helped write a children’s book marking 50 years of Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium. Other committee members included her husband Peter Lodal, Color Guard Director Jed Garvey, photographer Polk Chandler, Jeff Fleming, Andy Barnes and Douglass High School Alumni Association representative Calvin Sneed.

The special projects committee joined forces with a history committee to put the book together. Lodal and her team knew that there was extensive research to be done on the band’s history, as well as pictures to be found. Gail Campbell, her husband John Campbell, and her sister Frances Cottrell Claytor spearheaded the archival tasks.

Using old Times News articles, passed down knowledge and tens of thousands of photographs, the committee pieced together the band’s history.

The book is organized in several chapters. The first chapter is a timeline through the first nine band directors, showing the history and growth of the band. The committee was able to obtain stories and pictures from several past directors’ children.

Chapter two tells the story of Douglass High School’s band and the merging of the two bands and student bodies when the schools integrated.

The third chapter dives into the current era of the band under Director Lafe Cook.

The book also has a chapter on groups within the band, such as drum majors, majorettes, color guard, winter guard and the drum line. There are also sections on the Band Boosters and concert band.

The book ends with recognitions — containing every award the band has accumulated over the years — and a multitude of pictures of band students at different trips and performances, from Disneyland to Kingsport’s own downtown Christmas parade.

Documenting 100 years of local history and tradition was important to Lodal as a former band parent. She and her husband had three children in the band and were involved through every step.

“I saw the importance of the community support, the respect for the band program in Kingsport and how it is just such as important part,” she said.

Lodal said she wanted to tell the story of the students, parents, instructors and community that supported the band for a century.

“It’s just a very positive story,” she said.

Although the deadline to preorder the book is Nov. 5, books will continue to be sold while supplies last, including at the band’s holiday concert on Dec. 15.

Funds raised from book sales will partially support student travel to New York for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as other band needs such as fees, instrument repairs, adjunct instructors and travel.

The book can be purchased here

See Related Story that Follows:

A History of Making Beautiful Music: Douglass Band Included in DB Band Centennial Book

 

Sometimes, it's the little things that tell a story.  A certain heart-warming situation, a close gathering, a meaningful place, some wonderful companions...

Such was the Douglass High School band, the "Marching Tigers" of Kingsport, Tennessee.  "We were such a close-knit group," says Sylvia Ann Davis, one of the 'Tigers' clarinet players, "that sometimes we forgot that there was another school with a band in Kingsport that got most of the attention."

That 'other' school was Dobyns-Bennett, Kingsport's signature high school.  Because of segregation, Douglass was Kingsport's African-American School and Dobyns-Bennett was Kingsport's white school.  Douglass and its marching band closed for desegregation in 1966, and DB's Band celebrates its 100-year Centennial in music this year.  

The title of the book is "Strike Up the Band: 100 Years of Excellence in Sound, Sight and Community Support."  A footnote to the book title says "The High School Band Story in Kingsport, Tennessee" alluding to the fact that there was indeed another high school inside the city limits with a band.

Douglass High School's Marching Band was famously marching to the beat of a different drummer, well known in the Black communities of Riverview and the other African-American neighborhoods around the Tri-Cities and East Tennessee.

Roberta 'Bert' Webb

"We all knew there was a Dobyns-Bennett High School band 'cross town," says Roberta 'Bert' Webb, who eventually moved from clarinet to oboe in the Douglass band.  "We also knew there were other high school bands in the Kingsport area.  We just didn't think about them."

The Douglass High School Marching Band is part of Kingsport's tribute to high school bands in the Model City.  In fact, the Douglass Band story is placed high in the book.

 

The early history of the Dobyns-Bennett Band is profiled in Chapter 1.  "When we got past the Jewel Tilson, the Tyler Fleming, the Jack O'Hara and the Paul Arrington band director years, and the Brown and McDaniel eras, and then we started running into the subgroups around the later Lafe Cook years,"says Susan Lodal, chairperson of the DB Book committee.  And that's when a revelation hit the book organizing group.  "We thought 'wait a minute,' she said.  "We haven't told the entire Band story of that era, until we told the story of Douglass.  We knew we needed to include Douglass High School, but then where to put that history was an early dilemma."  

It was about that time back in February of 2026, the "Sons and Daughters of Douglass" Alumni Association (a.k.a. The Douglass Alumni Association) was contacted and commissioned to research, organize and write a history of the Douglass High School Marching Band to be included in the DB Centennial Book.  "Douglass needed a long chapter because the school's band had a long, rich history," Lodal said.  "Just like with Dobyns-Bennett, Douglass was sprinkled with little stories within big stories, and we needed to know them."

Former Douglass High School, Kingsport

But when finished, where to put the Douglass history IN the book?  "It couldn't go as Chapter One because that chapter told the DB Band history through the legacy of the legendary director Fess Witt," she said.  "We also couldn't put Douglass later in the book because the Douglass Band history would have appeared subordinate to everything that DB had done.  We did not want Douglass to appear as an afterthought.  We wanted that school to be an integral part of the high school band story in Kingsport."

After the Douglass Band history was documented,  it was decided that the Douglass High School Marching Band would be the entire prime position of Chapter Two in the book.  That's when the research by the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Alumni Association began.  Many of the high points, the little stories of the school's band history were revisited, recounted, and recalled by a few of those who lived it.  

Douglass Rhythm Band, 1939

The earliest mention of a band-type atmosphere at Douglass was the Douglass Rhythm Band in 1939.  It wasn't long after that, when a school song titled "We are the Sons and Daughters of Douglass" was adopted in 1941, thanks to music teacher Ms. Bessie French Campbell.  Years later, the Douglass High School athletic teams wrapped their entire competition strategy around those eight words.  

Douglas Releford

"Whenever we heard our band playing the school song from the field," remembers Tigers Football tackle Doug Releford, "it would get us fired up, the blood pumping a little more, the heart racing just a little faster.  We won many a football and basketball game with "We are the Sons and Daughters of Douglass" playing on the sidelines."  

Douglass High School Band, 1947

The school's alumni association now shares that title in history.  Meanwhile, with just 24 band members, many or most of them using hand-me-down instruments, 1947 was the first historical mention of a Douglass High School band.  Not until 1949 was Douglass science teacher Solomon Shannon also given the title of Band Director, which increased his salary by 60 dollars a month.  By 1951, he'd gotten a 24-dollar raise for band instruction.  His $384-dollar monthly salary plus science teaching, made him the second highest-paid teacher at Douglass at the time, second only to Principal V.O. Dobbins, Sr.  

Douglass High School Band, 1949

1951 was a pivotal year in the Douglass High School Marching Band history with the construction of a new school building on Louis Street in the 11-year old Riverview Neighborhood.  Band Director Shannon sent a letter to the Kingsport Board of Education, thanking board members for approving $3,500 for library books and for a brand new Baby Grand piano for the new Douglass Auditorium. 

Howard Young, Douglass Band Director

That year also placed an emphasis on developing individual Band talents.  When Shannon left Douglass, that emphasis was accelerated with the hiring of English teacher and Band Director Howard Young in 1957.  The Douglass High School band saw its playing potential move from a regular marching band to a concert band.  "He introduced the band to some of the more modern and jazz music of the time," remembers his daughter Charlotte, a flutist in the band.  

Melvin Drumgoole

The students of Howard Young were also impressed by the fact that he had an uncanny knack for not just being able to play just about every instrument in the band, but with all the other sounds in the ensemble, he could also tell when you in particular were playing the wrong note.  "Melvin, you need to tune your instrument to a high C note," remembers saxaphone player Melvin Drumgoole as he was told.  "He'd hit that note on the piano, he'd wait for you to find it, which I would and that would tune the instrument."

"With that little stick, he'd hit 'tap, tap,tap' on the rostrum," says Bert Webb, "and we'd all stop.  Somehow he'd hear the bad note and immediately go to it.  Sometimes, he'd pick up a trumpet and play just enough of it to help somebody learn the correct notes.  It amazed us because seems like he could do that with every instrument.  He actually made it feel like fun to be in the band."  

And then, there was "the Strut," also known as "the Pimp Walk."  The Strut was a certain drum cadence that fired up the crowd.  "We'd have the beat going, the cadence was on time, the notes were hitting led by Marshall Davis, Jimmy Horton and the other drummers," remembers Melvin Drumgoole.  "If we were marching, the parade goers knew when Douglass was coming down the street."  

First school representatives you'd see, were the Douglass majorettes.  "Everybody had to be taught the proper positioning for marching," remembers head majorette Helen Horton, now Dr. Helen Horton Styles.  She led the ladies during some of the Douglass glory years.  "It wasn't just walking along, it's how to point your toes, the certain angle that you have to lift your legs, how to carry themselves with that certain, proper attitude.  It became one of Douglass's finest traditions."  

Thelma (Watterson) Bradley

It even taught one baton-twirler that she had a right hand.  "I was a total lefty," remembers Thelma Watterson (Bradley), "and I wanted to join the Douglass majorette squad."  Problem was, you had to be a right-handed person to be a majorette because everybody was twirling the baton right-handed.  A left-handed twirler would stand out as out-of-place.  "Mr. Young told me that if I could learn to twirl right-handed, I could be on the squad."  What followed were several hours of practice, taught by head majorette Helen Horton, and Thelma finally mastered the craft.

Alas, the camaderie of making beautiful music in the Douglass band was not to survive.  Douglass closed its doors in 1966, the result of desegregating all the Black schools in Tennessee, most of whom had closed the year before.  Only two Douglass students, Loretta Bell and Anthony Daniels had moved over to join the Dobyns-Bennett Band and most Douglass band members were disturbed that band director Howard Young wasn't considered for a job with the DB band.  

V. O. Dobbins Sr. Complex, Riverview Community, Sept. 10, 2010

Although the Douglass High School Marching Band is a distant memory, the music of the band came back to life on September 10, 2010, the day the V.O. Dobbins Complex and tower were dedicated.  Included in the construction was a complete renovation of the V.O. Dobbins Community Center, housed in the former Douglass School building.  It was to be a memorable dedication ceremony.  

In attendance by invitation, were members of the Dobyns-Bennett Pep Band in an orange and white tent.  Nobody knew that for the first time since Douglass High School closed in 1966, they would be gifted the chance to hear a high school band play the Douglass School song.  It was to be an emotional moment in history.  

"We knew it was a song we had to get right the first time," remembers DB Band Director Lafe Cook.  "All we had to go on was the melody, which was an easy tune, once I and my  assistant Ryan Gilbert assembled an arrangement.  It was not difficult to play; the kids could understand it because it was four-bar phrases.  

The kids playing in the Pep Band that day were very interested in the words of the Douglass School song, especially how and why everything slowed down right at the ending which was so amazing:  'V-I-C-T-O-R-Y is the motto of Douglass High.'  

That emotional moment washed over the crowd, recalls Cook.  "The reaction of the audience to the song was so immediate, that many people familiar with the words began singing it, and the ones who were not singing couldn't, because there were tears streaming down their faces.  44 years since a band played the storied school song... it was overwhelming even for folks who were not Douglass alumni."  

"It even got to me," Cook said, "and the kids in the band picked up on that.  Our band members saw me getting teary-eyed, and they played with more intensity and determination.  It was a special moment."

Van Dobbins, Jr.

Another Douglass alumnus also moved to tears when he heard the song, said the DB Pep Band was spot on with their performance.  Van Dobbins, Jr. says he still has the trumpet he played in the Douglass Band.  "How do you describe what sounds good?" he asked.  "It's a positive attitude from people who weren't there for the original playing of the school song, but they felt the vibes from the legacy."

Remember the number 130.  That's how many pictures are in the Dobyns-Bennett Band's Centennial Book, many of them of marches, parades, football field formations, instrumentalists playing, majorettes marching, all of that befitting a 100-year tradition in Kingsport, the state of Tennessee, the nation and quite possibly, the world.  

And deep within that tradition, 49 of the pictures are of, or are related to, the Douglass High School Marching Band.  It owns a proud place, not as big as DB's, but just as honorable.  The book is the story of two schools, both having made beautiful music side by side... just not together.  

  

"The kids who were in the Douglass Band will be remembered and featured in the celebration of the Dobyns-Bennett Band," said Lodal.  

To hear the Dobyns-Bennett Band's tribute to the Douglass alma mater, the first time in more than 40 years that the Douglass School Song was played by a high school band, go to www.sonsanddaughtersofdouglass.org and scroll down to the first video link on the left.

To order the book "Strike Up the Band: Celebrating 100 Years in Sound, Sight and Community Support" to see the Douglass High School Band pictures immortalized in hard cover, go to:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFfFuNzg2e9Zp8ATu0wMNdTqtMdsDywCAlpOWHywGOhpApoA/viewform

Douglass Alumni Board will meet on Saturday

 

From Board President Doug Releford:

Please don't forget our scheduled Douglass Alumni Board of Directors meeting for the month of November.

The meeting will be this coming Saturday, November 14th, 2026 at 11:00 AM, in the conference room on the second floor of the V.O. Dobbins tower, 301 Louis Street, Kingsport, TN.

Please put on your calendars and don't forget to bring a friend.

Getting Ready for Local Veterans Day Commemoration

 

Time to Clean up the Neighborhood!

 

Don Alvin Kincaid, Jr. remembrance

 

Don Alvin Kincaid Jr. departed this life on Friday, October 30, 2026, at his residence. He was born on April 20, 1968, in Kingsport, Tennessee, to Margaret Kincaid and Don Kincaid Sr.

In 1986, Don graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School. He proudly served his country in the United States Army for four years and worked as a chemical operator at Eastman Chemical Company for 17 years. In 2008, Don earned a degree from Northeast State Community College.

Don enjoyed watching sports; his favorites were the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins. He loved music, grilling, and spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Brian Robert Kincaid; his grandmother, Pearl Lee Henry; and special cousins, Ronnie Releford and Quincy Jones.

To cherish his memory, Don leaves behind his wife, Jennifer Kincaid; children, Matthew (Courtney) Senior, Talia Muncey, Bria (Justin) Dykes, Auria Barrett, Kaira (Brandon) Kincaid, and Dontre Kincaid; mother, Margret Kincaid; father, Don (Pam) Kincaid; siblings, Rhonda (Chris) Bass, Aaron (Michelle) Kincaid, and Ron (Denisha) Kincaid; aunts, Mary Lee, Mary Jane, and Cara Lou; uncles, Richard and James; 14 grandchildren; and many neices, nephews, cousins, and friends.  

The Visitation will be from 11 AM to 12 Noon on Friday, November 6th, 2026 at the Shiloh Baptist Church, 712 East Sevier Avenue in Kingsport, TN.  

The Homegoing Service will from 12 Noon to 1 PM on that day at Shiloh.

The Interment will follow from 2 PM to 3 PM at the Mountain Home National Cemetery, 215 Heroes Drive, Johnson City, TN 37684.  

Care of the Kincaid family is entrusted to the Clark Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service, 802-806 East Sevier Avenue, Kingsport (423) 245-4971.

HELP STOP THE MADNESS!

 

       Vote in the 2026 midterms like your vote is the 

                    only one that changes things.

                                                  IT WILL!

Mary Lee Watterson remembrances

 

Mary Lee Watterson

Apr 26, 1949 — Oct 19, 2026

Mary Lee Watterson, 77, of Kingsport, departed this life for a heavenly life after a brief illness on Monday, October 19, 2026.

Mary started her culinary career at Oakwood Cafeteria in Kingsport; she later continued her career at ETSU as head chef. After 25 years of culinary service, she retired, leaving with a lifetime of friends. Mary later changed career paths and continued her love for taking care of people while serving the community at KCMC for over 20 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Doctor "Frank" Watterson; parents, Callie Mae Tarter and Charles Cornett; daughter, Phyllis Denise McMaster; sisters, Karen Schofield, Kimberly Bell, and Benetta Ealy.

Mary left many to cherish her memory: son, Phillip (Tosha) Watterson of Kingsport; daughter, Stacy Watterson (special friend James Mills) of Jacksonville, NC; sister, Ramona (Will) McClintock; brother, Raymond Bell, both of Kingsport; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; special friends Tina Slaughter and Kim Ray; along with a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and family.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Mafair United Methodist Church. A celebration of life service will follow with Rev. Billy Pierson officiating.

Interment for family will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Mountain Home National Cemetery. Those wishing to attend are asked meet at the cemetery by 9:50am.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to everyone who has comforted the Watterson family during this time.

To express condolences to the family please visit our website at Carter-Trent Funeral Home. Carter-Trent Funeral Home in Kingsport is serving the Watterson family.

Carter-Trent Funeral Home in Kingsport is serving the Watterson family. 

Edward Allan Faulkerson remembrance

 

Edward Allan Faulkerson departed this life on Friday, October 2, 2026 at Ballad Holston Valley Hospital and Medical Center.  He was born on May 10, 1947.

to Charles G. and Martha Faulkerson in Rogersville, Tennessee.

Edward was a student at Swift and Rogersville High School. He then pursued a career in the United States Army, where he fought in two wars, obtained the title of Master Parachutist, and worked as an illustrator. Edward earned many awards and commendations for his service before retiring from the military with full honors.

Following his time in the service, Edward worked as a general contractor and operated his own construction company for many years. He later worked at Lowe's and retired from the store.

Even after retiring, Edward was passionate about construction. He continued building and adding rooms onto his home well into his 70s. His last major project was just recently started in October 2025. 

When Edward took time to rest, he enjoyed being in nature, taking in fresh air on his carport, or sitting by the water fishing. Edward also enjoyed spending time with his family and loved attending his grandchildren’s events and performances. He knew how to keep his loved ones smiling and always had something positive to share. 

He often told others, “As long as I have my head up, you keep your head up. When I drop my head, then you can drop your head.” He never dropped his head. Edward was caring, giving, kind, and always willing to pour into others from the knowledge he had acquired.

In addition to his parents, Edward was preceded in death by his brothers, Charlie Faulkerson, who passed as an adolescent, and Charles Faulkerson.

Edward’s legacy continues to live on and be celebrated by his wife, Carolyn Faulkerson; his children, Demetria “Diane” (Isaiah, Jr.) McIver of Marietta, GA, Jeffery A. (Regina) Faulkerson of Fairfax, VA, Tasha X. (Omar Sly) Bey Of Murfreesboro, TN, Alphonso J. Faulkerson Of Cleveland, OH, and Monica R. Shade of Cincinnati, OH.... his grandchildren, Rajah Locklayer, Rayne Locklayer, MaSiah Locklayer, Jazmyn (Ethan) Miller, Jalin Lillard, Emmanuel Elder, Alphonso Faulkerson Jr., Antonio Faulkerson, Jaionna Faulkerson, Nova Faulkerson, Michael Rush Jr., Malik Rush, Jamal McIver, Caleb Faulkerson, George Williams, and Melyk Waheed.... great-grandchildren, Josiah Molin, Symphony Miller, Kemaira Mahone, Milani Rush, and Maliyah Rush; sister, Venora (William) Rodgers of Rochester, NY; brother, Joseph Faulkerson of Houston, TX; brother-in-law, William (Mary) Gamble of Kingsport, TN; sister-in-law, Gladys Gambrell of Kingsport, TN.... cousin and best friend, John (Diana) Brice; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The Family will receive friends on Thursday, October 8, 2026 from 6 PM to 7 PM at the Central Baptist Church, 301 Carver Street, Kingsport, TN 37660.  The Celebration of Life will follow from 7 PM to 8 PM at the church.

The Cortege will depart the Central Baptist Church on Friday at 1 PM, October 9, 2026, enroute to the Interment at 2 PM at the Mountain Home National Cemetery, 215 Heroes Drive, Johnson City, TN 37684.  

Care of the family of Edward Allan Faulkerson is entrusted to Clark Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service, Kingsport  (423) 245-4971.

Where Does Hate Live in our Community?

 

From our friends and colleagues at the Southern Poverty Law Center:

October is "Hate Crimes Awareness Month."  The one thing that has Blacks always looking over their shoulders, indeed lives on, rearing its ugly head periodically from time to time.  It's no secret that since the current administration took over, Black people, Brown people, and other minorities have to pay attention and be keenly aware of their surroundings.

East Tennessee has a total population of 1.25 million people, according to the last census.  In the 15-county East Tennessee region managed by the East Tennessee Economic Development Agency, approximately 56,006 (or 4.5% of the population) are Black or African-American.

Hate is still in our backyards in Tennessee.. click this link to see where it is. See and scross down the list of hate groups in the column at the lower right.

Click here to see where hate lives in the rest of the United States.  Click anywhere on the map for a specific location.

Mark Todd Bradford remembrance

 

               Mark Todd Bradford 

The family of Mark Todd Bradford (Bedford Heights, Ohio) announces his passing on September 21, 2026. 

Mark, born on March 11, 1967, was the son of Lois Page Bradford Roberts of Warrensville Heights, Ohio and Carl Bradford of Kingsport.

Mark is remembered by family, friends, and others who shared time and connection.  

Family, friends, and acquaintances remember Mark for his warmth, thoughtfulness, and the moments shared together.  While he will be deeply missed, the influence he had on the lives around him remains.  Loved ones will reflect on the time spent together.  Mark’s memory will live on in the hearts of friends and family, a lasting reminder of the connections and experiences he brought to the world.

You can send your sympathies to the family by clicking this link.  

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 2nd 2026 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Calhoun Funeral Home (23000 Rockside Rd, Bedford Heights, OH 44146). 

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 3rd 2026 at 10:30 AM and at 11:00 AM at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church (4069 Eastwood Ln, Warrensville Heights, OH 44122).

Guess What Time of Year It Is?

 

It's that time of the year.. Happy September!  Hit play below twice, and turn up the speakers:

Remembering our Douglass Music Director, Pemberton "Pem" Steele and his Wife Nancy

 

Many Douglass alumni remember Pemberton "Pem" Steele, the Douglass High School Music Director and Teacher (I believe he also played the piano for a time at the Central Baptist Church on Carver Street, plus he also was a private piano teacher during his time at Douglass High School).  His wife, Nancy Hampton Steele was also a Health and Home Economics teacher at Douglass.  I did an internet search for the Steeles, and found this remembrance:

Professor Pemberton Steele was a well-known Cleveland gospel musician and the long-time chorus master for The Greater Abyssinia Male Chorus. Together with the choir of The Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, he recorded the notable gospel album "God is, Still Is, Alive Today". 

While a primary published obituary detailing his specific passing is not readily archived online, historical records from his family provide relevant context:

Family Members: Professor Pemberton Steele was married to Nancy Pearl Hampton Steele. 
Children's Passing: Their son, Anthony Pemberton Steele (born November 7, 1969), passed away at age 52 on January 25, 2022. Anthony's obituary notes that he was preceded in death by both of his parents, Pemberton and Nancy Steele. Services for the family have historically been handled by Watson's Funeral Home in Cleveland. 
Surviving Family: Professor Steele is survived by his daughters, Karen (of Florida) and Sonya (of Columbus, Ohio), as well as multiple grandchildren.  NOTE:  We are not sure when Mr. Steele or Miss Hampton passed.

If you are looking for specific records regarding Professor Steele's estate, specific dates, or a hard copy of his funeral program, you can contact the administrative offices at the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church on E. 105th Street in Cleveland, where his musical legacy remains an archival part of their history.