This page is dedicated to the memory of our beloved Double Barrel Cooker's
Houston 2005 was a very difficult cook-off for the Double Barrel cooking team. The very night we set
up in Houston, one of our dearest team members died. Daudre Smith left us that night to join a
much greater party but we still miss her very much. Daudre, affectionately known as “Mom” by the
team and as “Dodge” by others, had fought lung cancer for a year and was really beginning to enjoy
her retirement from work when her heart failed her. Daudre was a very unique individual. I was
privileged to work very closely with her for 20 years. I liked to use our relationship as an example of
not judging a person by first impressions. Before we started working together, she was someone who
had the boss wrapped around her little finger and I was someone she didn’t want around because I
might not like her language. Thank goodness, that didn’t stop us from becoming best of friends. I
even was known to use some language that surprised her – once in Las Vegas at the cook-off there
(after judging way too many bloody marys) and once on her birthday cake (Happy Birthday, Bitch! – a
cake she was very proud of). That was the type of person Daudre was – very up-front and
straightforward – and, I think, that’s what I loved about her so much. I was very lucky to not end up
on her bad side – at least, not that I was aware of. She was also a very compassionate and caring
person, a virtue that even she could not hide well. Daudre loved her two daughters (and we do, too),
Melanee and Melissa, and her grandchildren. She was known as “Mimi” to them. There has been a
huge emptiness since she has gone – in our team, in our hearts. We pulled a smoking pit in her
funeral procession; maybe we were trying to smoke away the tears. We miss her so much and will
continue to dedicate our presence at the Houston cook-off to her memory.
Jerome
up in Houston, one of our dearest team members died. Daudre Smith left us that night to join a
much greater party but we still miss her very much. Daudre, affectionately known as “Mom” by the
team and as “Dodge” by others, had fought lung cancer for a year and was really beginning to enjoy
her retirement from work when her heart failed her. Daudre was a very unique individual. I was
privileged to work very closely with her for 20 years. I liked to use our relationship as an example of
not judging a person by first impressions. Before we started working together, she was someone who
had the boss wrapped around her little finger and I was someone she didn’t want around because I
might not like her language. Thank goodness, that didn’t stop us from becoming best of friends. I
even was known to use some language that surprised her – once in Las Vegas at the cook-off there
(after judging way too many bloody marys) and once on her birthday cake (Happy Birthday, Bitch! – a
cake she was very proud of). That was the type of person Daudre was – very up-front and
straightforward – and, I think, that’s what I loved about her so much. I was very lucky to not end up
on her bad side – at least, not that I was aware of. She was also a very compassionate and caring
person, a virtue that even she could not hide well. Daudre loved her two daughters (and we do, too),
Melanee and Melissa, and her grandchildren. She was known as “Mimi” to them. There has been a
huge emptiness since she has gone – in our team, in our hearts. We pulled a smoking pit in her
funeral procession; maybe we were trying to smoke away the tears. We miss her so much and will
continue to dedicate our presence at the Houston cook-off to her memory.
Jerome
In April 2006, our good friend Tommy Mitchell passed away. Tommy's been a good friend to
the Double Barrel Cookers for many years. I'll always remember Tommy watching our door
(and our backs) at the cookoffs. He would always let the pretty girls in and keep the
hardcases out. Tommy will be missed by us all.
the Double Barrel Cookers for many years. I'll always remember Tommy watching our door
(and our backs) at the cookoffs. He would always let the pretty girls in and keep the
hardcases out. Tommy will be missed by us all.
We lost another good friend. Mr Roger Bethard, our good friend and sponsor
passed away this past year,2007. We miss our friend.
passed away this past year,2007. We miss our friend.
Only the good die young
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