Derek Eugene Brown

March 20, 1987 - September 29, 2013

Mr. Derek Eugene Brown, age 26, a resident of Columbia, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 29, 2013 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Linden, TN.

Funeral services for Derek will be conducted on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Heritage Funeral Home with Elder Christopher Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in Maury Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends for visitation on Friday, October 4, 2013 from 4-8 PM at Heritage Funeral Home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Born on March 20, 1987 in Orange County, California, Derek was the son of Benjie Brown, Sr. and Tyann Salgardo. He was interested in cars, motorcycles, boats, and being out on the water. Derek also enjoyed music, food, and he could never turn down a new pair of tennis shoes. He loved attending his church, New Life Church of God in Christ. Derek’s family described him as being a very liked man by all types of people. He loved children dearly, and children loved him. He never met a stranger, and he often enjoyed seeing and doing new things. He will deeply be missed by his family, friends, and everyone who knew him.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his son: Xzavier Humphrey Brown of Columbia; daughters: Ma’Tejah Brown of Columbia, Quinzarria Nicholson of Columbia, J’Layiah Brown of Columbia; brothers: Benjie Brown, Jr. of Sacramento, CA, Jermaine Pettigrew of Jackson, TN, Christopher Gordon of Columbia; sisters: Naomi Brown of Nashville, Amber Brown of Columbia, Mariah Brown of Murfreesboro, Tonya Pruitt of Lewisburg; paternal grandmother: Delois Brown of Nashville; maternal grandmother: Mary Cox of Sacramento, CA; niece: Lailani Brown; nephew: Aubrey Amos III; cousins: Dominique Brown, Nikoluas Brown, Marla Grisham, Kendra Gonzalez; Aunts: Paulette Brown, Pamela Armstrong; best friend: Damita Duke; in-laws: Edjuan Jones, Phillip Benford; God-mothers: Cindy Cole, Jacquelan Miller, Jeanetta Robertson; God-son: Markeith Clayborne; uncles: Howard Mitchell, Hugh Mitchell, Walter Mitchell, Paul Brown, Jr., and Reggie Brown; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends; and girlfriend: Latoya L. Miller.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents: Eugene and Elease Mitchell; aunt: Yolanda Auld; and grandfather: Paul Brown, Sr.

Pallbearers will be Calvin Shaw, Gregory James, Chesley Collins, Jonathon Cannon, Melniquis McClain, and Gregory Polk.

Lenny Pettigrew will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

“HOPE (Help.Our.People.Endure)- To truly endure the struggle, One must keep the faith! Meaning PUSH!!!! (P.U.S.H.) Pray Until Something Happens, and stay positive, while patiently waiting. I know God wants to use me, at the same time, so does Satan, but the only way Baal can bind me, is through deception, distractions, and temptations. The mind is the battlefield. ‘It’s all mental.’ So as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. It starts: thoughts, words, actions, habits, character and eventually destiny. A man’s perception is his very own reality. So if you’re stuck in a rut and can’t change the situation, then change you’re observation. Remember, words have power, Therefore change your conversation. For example: money is funny, change is strange, and cash flow is super slow, but through it all, sunshine, rain, sleet, and snow, God is still in control! Balling on a budget, yet thankful for the little things I got, because I’d rather be floating on a boat, then sinking in a yacht. It was once said that fish and bread keeps the poor man fed, well, faith is the hand that pulls his chin up, pushes his chest out, strengthens his back and legs while holding his head. A double minded man is unstable in all of his ways, and faith without works is dead. If you’re sitting around waiting for God to move. Realize that he might be waiting on you, like when Jesus told the certain man by the pool, “Rise up, and take your bed.” “We are more than conquers!” Those aren’t my words, That’s what the Bible said…“We are more than conquers!” If God say’s to move forward. Who’s going to stop you? Man made weapons, But God made man. All that’s saying is that “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” All things good and bad works together for the greater good for those that love the Lord and is called according to his purpose. So when the Heat is turned up, and you get a little nervous, always remember, It wasn’t just Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego standing around in that furnace, continue to pray for me, and I’m going to do the same for you. But in the meantime, in between time, this is what we all need to do… Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understandings; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” - Ungandua Ingram

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