Derrick Smith

Derrick Smith was born on October 4, 1957, in Newark, New Jersey, to Lemoyne Smith Sr. and Betty Smith. At the age of 68, Derrick went home to be with the Lord on April 30, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. A beloved son, brother, and friend, Derrick graduated from Central High School in Newark in 1976.

From a young age, Derrick displayed a deep curiosity about the world around him. He rarely played with a toy for long before taking it apart to understand how it worked. This inquisitive spirit stayed with him throughout his life.

While working at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, Derrick met his beloved wife, Sheila, a head nurse. The two became attached and shared an inseparable partnership until her passing in 2022.

Derrick went on to become a master electrician, beginning his career at University Hospital before relocating to Georgia. He later joined Grady Hospital in Atlanta, where he served with dedication for 17 years before retiring in 2020.

Derrick was a gifted storyteller whose humor and insight brought both laughter and reflection to those around him. Known for his warm smile, easygoing nature, and constant humor, he was someone who left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Friends often described him as a man who brought laughter into every moment.

He found joy in wandering through new ideas, losing himself in music, and seeking out quiet waters where he could cast a line to fish and breathe. Derrick moved through life with a gentle curiosity — always learning, creating and sharing whatever lit him up.

Music was his language, his gift, and his way of shaping the world around him. It filled his home, touched his family, and even brightened his workplace. Long before Google, Spotify, Apple, or Microsoft made every song a tap away, there was Derrick’s home — the place where you could hear any genre, any artist, any sound your heart wanted. His passion for sound created an atmosphere that welcomed everyone and reflected the depth of his appreciation for the art of music.

He is survived by his brother, Lemoyne Smith Jr. (wife Rhonda); brothers-in-law Melton Green and Rodney Smith; sister-in-law Tyran Smith; and a host of nieces and nephews, including Jamene Edwards, Rodney Smith, Tiana Smith, Kiana Smith, Ebony Smith, Michael Smith, Najee Smith, Shelton Walton, and Taryn Outlaw. He is also survived by his aunts, Dorothy Wright and Catherine Edgerton, along with numerous cousins and extended family members who loved him dearly.

He is preceded in death by his father, Lemoyne Smith Sr.; his mother, Betty Jean Smith; his sister, Denice Smith; his brother, Michael Smith; and his niece, Sereen Smith.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 11:00am in the chapel of Southern Cremations and Funerals at Holly Hill, 431 SW Broad Street, Fairburn, Georgia 30213.