Douglas Dwight England
Douglas Dwight England came into this world on August 21, 1943, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was the second of four sons born to William Luke England, Sr., and Alice Ruth Wells England. Doug started elementary school at age five and attended elementary and high school in Decatur and Birmingham, Alabama. He began playing the drums in the fifth grade and continued playing drums in elementary, high school and college bands. Doug graduated from Decatur’s Lakeside High School in 1960 and began attending college at Tuskegee Institute where he earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. While at Tuskegee, Doug played in the college marching and concert bands, and the jazz orchestra. During this time period he also earned money playing drums for a locally popular R&B, and jazz band.
Doug was drafted into the U.S. Army and served from 1967 to 1969. He was assigned to the 2d Infantry Division in South Korea. While serving in South Korea, Doug was selected to become a member of a musical group that traveled throughout the country providing entertainment for military personnel and their families. Doug relished this opportunity first, for the musical experience, and second because it exempted him from the normal regular duties of a soldier. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Doug relocated to Los Angeles, California, and later to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he worked primarily in the security services industry. He lived in Las Vegas until his death on August 21, 2022, his 79th birthday.
Doug is survived by his two daughters Candice England Scott, Oakland, CA, Brenda Charlette England, Los Angeles, CA, and their mother Roselita Smalley, Los Angeles, CA, two brothers William Luke England, Jr. Silver Spring, MD and Gregory L. England, Hackensack, NJ, as well as a granddaughter Sydney Rose (age 17) and a grandson Dallas (age 15). Also left to mourn Doug are nephews William Lansing England, Concord, NC, Kevin Douglas England, Silver Spring, MD, Kevin Gerald England, Signal Hill, CA, niece Faith Danielle England, Silver Spring, MD, first cousins Anita J. Rivens, Dallas, TX, James Elligan, Jr., Chattanooga, TN, Carol Martin, Cherryville, NC, Dr. Joan Woodward, Annapolis, MD, second cousins Archie Meredith, Summerville, SC, and Maurice Meredith, Philadelphia, PA, as well as a host of grand nieces and nephews, high school and college classmates.
