Maybelle Cowles Dukes

Maybelle Arlene Cowles Dukes was born January 7, 1928, in Manchester Connecticut, and was the daughter of Mabel Tedford Cowles and Colonel Walter George Cowles. Maybelle was the widow of the late William Francis Dukes, to whom she was married 58 years.

Maybelle’s interesting life led her to many places and many friends. She attended schools in Manchester, Connecticut, Palatka, Florida, Gainesville, Florida, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Anniston, Alabama, and Augusta, Georgia. She graduated from William Hall High School in West Hartford, Connecticut and attended the University of Southern Mississippi.

In her early married life, Maybelle lived in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Jackson, Mississippi, arriving in Gulfport in 1957.

Maybelle was a charter member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where she served as church historian and was circle leader with the Women of the Church. She received an Honorary Life Membership in Presbyterian Women which is given in recognition of faithful service in church work.

Maybelle was a Life Member and officer of the Gulfport Junior Auxiliary, past president of the Bayou View Garden Club, and officer in the Merry Maskers Carnival organization in which she reigned as queen in 1984. She was a founding sponsor of the National Museum of the Army in Washington, D.C. and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Traveling and playing bridge were her hobbies, and she enjoyed life to the fullest. She loved being with her family and friends.

Maybelle was preceded in death by her husband, William Francis Dukes; her mother and father, Mabel Cowles and Colonel Walter Cowles; her daughter, Laurie Ann Dukes Symmes; and her sister, Dolores Cowles Harper.

She is survived by her daughter, Rena Dukes; son, Walter Dukes; and daughter-in-law Elaine Dukes; as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Will Symmes (Katy), Cowles Symmes (Mary Beth), Lee Wilburn, Laurie Dowell (Jim), Jessica Gazzo (Jason), Bill Dukes, Hannah Symmes, Mallory Symmes, Ford Symmes, Yates Symmes, Mary Frances Symmes, Carolyn Dukes, Emma Dukes, Lillyan Dukes, Coleman Gazzo, William Gazzo, Emmons Gazzo, and Ellie Dowell.

Visitation will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 5005 Lawson Avenue, Gulfport, Mississippi on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, from 10:00 – 11:00 with a service following at 11:00. There will be a private interment at the National Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Mrs. Dukes requests that any memorial gifts be made to the William Francis Dukes Endowed Scholarship #0977 at The University of Southern Mississippi which supports students majoring in criminal justice. Memorials may be sent to The Foundation at USM, Box 5210, Hattiesburg, MS 39406.

Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport, is honored to serve the family of Maybelle Arlene Cowles.