Willis A. Derden: Obituary

Mr. Willis A. Derden, age 84 of Durham, NC, formerly of Ellijay, GA passed March 13, 2018.

Mr. Derden was born July 19, 1933 in Ellijay, GA to his late parents Bascom and Bell Sutton Derden.  In his preteen years, Willis moved to Durham, NC following the untimely death of his mother.  He graduated from high school and went on to earn a degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University.  Mr. Derden was a member of the First Baptist Church of Durham and worked as a self-employed landscape engineer.  He is preceded in death by his brothers, Lawrence, John B. and Sutton N. Derden, and his sisters, Annabelle Selph, Savilla Oxford, and Virginia Derden.

Survivors include his sisters, Marie Holt of Ellijay, GA, Juanita Sanford of Braselton, GA and Geneva Colvard of Winder, GA; numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Memorial services will be held at 2pm on Saturday, April 14^th, 2018 from the Oak Hill United Methodist Church with Rev. Geri Worley officiating.  Music will be by Danny and Darrell Sanford.  Interment will take place in the Oak Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Oak Hill United Methodist Church, c/o Eddie Ellington, 1841 Boardtown Road, Ellijay, GA 30540 in memory of Mr. Derden.