Robert K. Chamberlain “Kenny”
Sunrise: July 10, 1954
Sunset: March 29, 2022
Celebration of Life Viewing: Wednesday, April 6 & Thursday, April 7, 2022 11:00am—6:00pm Pollard Funeral Home 2626 N. Post Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73141
Please Save the Date Memorial Celebration Honoring
Kenny Chamberlain
July 2022 Complete Information to Come
Special Thanks: Fairview Baptist Church, Pollard Funeral Home, Frederick A. Douglass High School Class of ‘72, Men of Promise Gospel Choir, and 3Qed.
Obituary Robert K. (Kenny) Chamberlain, 67, of Oklahoma City, OK passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at his home.
Kenny attended Culbertson Elementary, Moon Junior High, and graduated from Douglass High School in 1972. His passions for welding and singing took root during his years at Moon, and lasted his entire life. In addition to lending his talents to the high school choir, Kenny lettered in football and baseball. While attending Douglass, he completed vocational tech classes in welding, taught by his mentor and lifelong friend Charles Miles. Upon graduation, despite having his welding license in hand, Kenny followed his parents’ request to go to college. He spent three semesters at Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View, TX. After college, Kenny returned home to work in the construction and welding industries.
In 1972 Kenny welcomed a son, Shyton, with Elizabeth Bowie. In 1973 he married Berishia Wilson with whom he had two daughters, Maphelle and Yvonne. The family lived in Kansas City, MO, where Kenny worked for Kenworth-Dart Trucking Company and Otis Elevator. He returned to Oklahoma City in the early 1980’s and continued work in the construction field before opening his own shop, Ken C Contracting. As a business owner Kenny prided himself on being a leader in his industry while making a difference in the lives of others. His shop was a place where former felons could find gainful employment on their path to reformation. Kenny was a member of the Minority Contractors Association and the Oklahoma Minority Suppliers Development Council.
Kenny was a devoted Douglass Trojan, serving on the Class of 1972 Reunion committees among other roles. In 2019 Kenny received The Ben Hall Service Award, in recognition of his dedicated service, from Fredrick A. Douglass High School Class of 1972 Scholarship Foundation. Kenny’s love for singing compelled him to join the alumni choir, Fairview Gospel Choir, and later the Gospel Music Workshop of America’s (GMWA) Oklahoma City Chapter mass choir. He was a charter member of the Men of Promise choir, formed under the GMWA umbrella.
Kenny is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Zethel; his daughter, Maphelle; his brother, Blake Chamberlain; and a nephew, William “BJ/Will”. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Shyton Gilbreath (Lyn), of Oklahoma City, OK and Yvonne Chamberlain, of Columbia, MO; grandchildren Sabrina, Sebastion, and Solange Gilbreath; brothers Ronnie, Billy (Cherie), and Victor, all of Oklahoma City; five nieces, April, Nicole (Barrett), Patricia (Anthony), Ronishia (Georgia), and Blair; two nephews Robert (Joycelyn) and Channing (Sissy); close friends Eustacia “Stacy” Dawson, Joycelyn “JJ” Jaggers, James Johnson, Peter Miller, and a host of other relatives and good friends.
Robert K. “Kenny” Chamberlain
Kenny was born July 10, 1954 in Oklahoma City, OK to Robert C. Chamberlain, Jr. and Zethel M. (Hooks). He was the second of five sons born to Robert and Zethel Chamberlain. Kenny was a mischievous and fearlessly rambunctious child. Some might say he never grew out of these traits.