Jimmy Derden, Jr.
February 2, 1950 — April 4, 2016
passed away April 4, 2016, at his residence. Funeral services will be
Thursday, April 7, 2016, at 1:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with
Rev. Tim Le e offic iating. The interment will immediately follow at
Beersheba Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, April 7, 2016, from 11:00
AM until the time of t he service at the funer al home.
M r. De rden was born February 2, 1950, in York, AL, to Mavis Clemmons
Derden of Columbus, MS, and the late William Derden, Sr., of Vicksburg, MS.
His grandparents were the late Guy George Derden, Sr., and Ellie Mealer
Derden, and the late Elvin Elijah Clemmons and Ada Woolbright Clemmons, all
of Columbus.
Jimmy went to high school at S.D. Lee High School and graduated from
Yazoo City High School. He then graduated from Mississippi College with a
degree in business and worked at Central Paper Co. and at Dixie Glass in
Jackson. About 20 years ago, he moved back to his old "stomping grounds" in
Columbus and went to work for Sherwin Williams, retiring recently. He
immediately started reconnecting with many of his friends from high school.
One of his happiest results of his move was marrying his soul mate, Cassie
Ivey Derden. Together they built their dream house on the old Derden home
place in New Hope. As the patriarch of his branch of the Derden family,
Jimmy loved to host family parties at the house, gathering everyone together
on Thanksgiving every year and enjoying celebrating family. He developed an
interest in cooking, and he took the culinary arts courses at MUW for fun,
honing his skills with the grill and smoker, in particular. His "Big D's
Rub" was a gift everyone looked forward to receiving every Christmas.
Jimmy was a story-teller, a trivia buff, and a stout champion of the
underdog. He took in strays regularly, both the two-legged and four-legged
kind, and he had a kind and generous spirit. He was always eager and
willing to help anyone who needed it, whether personally or professionally.
He had a wonderful sense of humor and delighted in making his family laugh
at the most inappropriate moments. Despite swearing off his dedication to
football at least once every five years, he was an avid supporter of the
University of Alabama Crimson Tide. His phenomenal memory won him many
arguments that revolved around football or baseball statistics, both college
and professional teams. He was also a movie buff, a music aficionado, and
the keeper of many of the family stories.
Though his life was briefer than those who love him would want, Jimmy
lived a full life in his 66 years, filled with happiness, contentment, and
love, sitting on his front porch with Cassie, having an afternoon toddy and
watching the birds and deer come to the feeders. He will be greatly missed
by all who knew him.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Cassie; his mother, Mavis
Clemmons Derden; his daughters, Amy Smith (John), Kelly Myers (Lee), and
Sara Dismuke (Trent); his step-children, Ivey Ivy (Ken), and Jason McKeller
(Lucy); and twelve grandchildren and step-grandchildren, all of whom he
loved dearly. In addition, he leaves his two sisters, Beverly Derden
Fatherree (Ben), and Melissa Derden Black (Harry), and three nieces and a
nephew. Also, Jimmy leaves his mother-in-law, Madge Ivey; sister-in-law,
Betty Whipple (Cliff); brothers-in-law, Brooks Ivey (Heidi), and David Ivey
(Christina). Jimmy had lots of cousins and friends who will also miss him.
He was predeceased by his father, Bill Dearden, his grandparents, and his
aunts and uncles.
If you would like to remember Jimmy, please make a donation to the Bill
Derden Memorial Scholarship at Hinds Community College, Development
Foundation, Box 1100, Raymond, MS, 39154; the Beersheba Presbyterian Church
Building Fund, 1736 Beersheba Road, Columbus, MS, 39702; the Humane Society,
P.O. Box 85, Columbus, MS, 39703, or the charity of your choice.<iframe id="tukios_player_512x330" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="https://www.tributeslides.com/videos/embedded_video/62ZL675BG9DTC8W3" width="512"></iframe>
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jimmy Derden, Jr., please visit our flower store.