Hattiesburg, MS
Funeral Home
Huelett-Winstead Funeral Home
Visitation
See service details.
Service
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Holy Rosary will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by visitation and fellowship in the church and fellowship hall from 10:40 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
Obituary
Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero who Served in the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten.” In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service, which our military men and women have given to their country and our state, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard memorializing its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation. Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on October 31, 2026 and has moved on to his heavenly home. Prior Specialist Four Douglas Michael Doherty, age 59, Hattiesburg, MS, who served in the HHC, 114th Area Support Group has departed and gone to a better place with our Lord and Savior. Doug joined the 11th ASG in 1992 serving nine plus years as various positions.h
It takes a special person to serve in the military for their country, sacrificing time with family time, comfort, and safety to ensure all Americans can enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country.
A special message from General Douglas MacArthur remains relevant today for our servicemen who have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away.” Rest in peace, soldier. We honor your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family’s support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our coulntry would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly, and live so freely.
You have now earned your rest, so go fly with the angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is complete. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ love for the Father and the Son.
Another great soldier has gone home—“Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life.”
Obituary, Visitation, and Service Details:
Special note: Douglas Michael Doherty was the nephew of of two of our retiree members, Woody and Paul Lyon.
Douglas Michael Doherty, 59, of Middleport, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Quincy, Massachusetts and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Doug graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 1986 and attended the University of Southern Mississippi as a Math major. He proudly served his community in the Mississippi National Guard for nine years, including training time in Germany. When he left Southern Miss he began a long and successful career in restaurant management, working with well-known brands such as Applebee’s, Garfield’s, Ryan’s, Golden Corral, and others. Doug was known for mentoring countless associates, often taking chances on people when others would not. His patience, generosity, and people skills shaped the careers of many, and he received numerous awards and accolades over nearly 35 years in the profession.
Although Doug took great pride in his work, his happiest moments were spent with his family and in his lifelong love of sports. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Michele “Missy”, for 31 years, knowing from the very first moment he saw her that she was “the one”. His daughter, Carmen, and his granddaughter, Addie Mae, were the joys of his life, and he spoke of them often with pride and affection. Doug was an avid runner in high school as part of the Hattiesburg High School crosscountry team, a passion he later passed on to his daughter. His favorite sport was basketball; he played collegiate summer league with some of the best athletes in the South and remained one of the most knowledgeable fans of the game.
Doug never met a stranger. His warm, outgoing personality made everyone feel like an old friend, and he found genuine joy in connecting with people—whether offering a bit of advice, sharing a story, or simply listening. Of all his accomplishments, nothing meant more to him than the love he had for his family. Both his immediate family and his brothers and sisters, his uncles and many cousins. He also had great love for his many lifelong friends.
During his years in Ohio, Doug was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pomeroy. He also treasured the home church of his youth, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hattiesburg, and was grateful for opportunities to visit. In the past year, he was able to attend both Sacred Heart and St. Fabian services during trips home to Hattiesburg, experiences that touched him deeply. Doug sought meaning throughout his life and valued his connection to God and his understanding of faith.
He was preceded in death by his father, David L. Doherty, Sr.; his mother, Nelda Ann Lyon Doherty; his older brother, David L. Doherty, Jr.; and his little sister, Katheryn Ann Doherty Townsend, and his beloved niece Ashley Holder.
Doug is survived by his wife, Michele “Missy” Ross Doherty; his daughter, Carmen Doherty Fish (Isaiah); his granddaughter, Adalynn Mae Fish “Ady”, with another granddaughter expected in the coming months; his older brother, Daniel Doherty (Amy); and his older sister, Theresa Doherty Holder (Monnie) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Holy Rosary will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by visitation and fellowship in the church and fellowship hall from 10:40 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., with interment at Highland Cemetery immediately following.