Funeral services were held Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, at Jefferson Davis Middle School Gymnasium for Mrs. Kimberly Michelle Dotson Young, 46, who died Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, in Saraland, Alabama. Bishop Kevin Youngblood officiated with interment following at Green Grove Baptist Church in Prentiss. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Kimberly Young was the oldest of five children, born to Larry D. Smith and Marolyn Dotson in Chicago, Illinois. She was very creative and displayed a keen sense for the arts. She joined First Hopewell Baptist Church in Plateau, Alabama at a young age where she was active in the youth choir and youth usher board.  Her love for music continued as she pursued interest in playing the flute.  One of her first musical leadership opportunities occurred at the age of 14 at the Mobile County Alabama “Music in Me” program. From there, she participated in the Clark Middle School band program. After completing middle school, she attended John L. Leflore High School of Communication and Arts in Mobile, Alabama. In high school, she was an active member of the “Marching Rattlers, ” where she was first chair throughout high school.

Mrs. Young attended University of Southern Mississippi on a band scholarship. She was a member of the Southern Mississippi music program and “The Pride of Mississippi”, she continued to excel musically as first chair flutist and was an officer of Tau Beta Sigma National Band Sorority. While attending USM, she was initiated into the Mu Nu chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority where she served as step master. In addition, she served as a Resident Assistant before graduating from USM with her Bachelor’s in Music Education. Mrs. Young later received her Master’s in education from William Carey University and was presently working on her Specialist in Educational Leadership from Belhaven University.

Mrs. Young impacted the lives of generations of students through her high expectations and desire for students to be exposed to positive things that the world had to offer. her fist teaching assignment was at Bay Springs. She later worked at Jefferson Davis County where she remained until her departure. Throughout her career, Mrs. Young had several life changing roles to include: Director of Bands for Prentiss Jr. Senior High School (PHS), Cheer Sponsor for Prentiss High School, Choir Director for Prentiss High School, Student Council Sponsor, Senior Class Sponsor, President of Five County Head Start Program, the first cheer sponsor of Jefferson Davis County High School. As director of bands, she revitalized the PHS Marching Band program as she reintroduced commitment, high standards and structure.  She was responsible for taking many of the students of PHS on their first out of state trips. PHS band members marched in several Mardi Gras parades in Mandeville and Bogalusa, Louisiana and black history programs in state.  The PHS band program grew to be a safe haven and place of creativity and belonging for students who otherwise would have been left out. While serving as band director, she remained committed as she became mother to three amazing boys, Kameron, Kedrick and Kori.

Mrs. Young stepped up when there was a need for cheer sponsor and changed the face of cheering at PHS; when students desired to sing, she answered the call and served as choir director. Her students participated in several noteworthy performances that include: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, All American Cheer Squad performance at Walt Disney World and Wald Disney World choir Performance. Under her leadership, Mrs. Young students have performed at the collegiate level in their perspective areas, been named All Americans and have received recognition at the national level. In addition, her students participated in several volunteer opportunities such as collecting toiletries for the Prentiss Senior Home, singing at the Ellisville State School Holiday party, performing at the Community Heritage Celebration at Prentiss Institute, participating in Dr. Seuss Reading Programs at the local elementary schools, and singing at several churches, throughout the community.

Mrs. Young was reintroduced to the love of her life in 2008, Robert Young; after a three-year courtship, they were married. Within the union, the “Young Eight” were created with the additions of Aiden, Madisyn, and Musique. She was joined Mt. Zoin Ora Baptist Church in Collins, under the leadership of Bishop Kevin Youngblood, where she served as youth director, director of Sunday School and Deaconess.

She was preceded in death by her son, Aaron Jajuan; brother, Dillon Smith, grandmother, Dora Smith and grandfather, Jerome Dotson Sr.

Mrs. Young is survived by her husband, Robert Young; five sons, Kedrick, Kameron, Kori, Aiden and Musique; one daughter, Madisyn; parents, Marolyn Dotson and Larry Smith Sr.; grandmother, Rosetta Doston; sister, Keisha (Shadrick) Barnes; two brothers, Larry Smith Jr. and Marlon Smith Sr.; mother-in-law, Barbara Young and many other relatives and friends.