Derrick Clemont Barnes

Derrick C. Barnes, affectionately known to his friends and family as “Bud” or “DBarnes,” son of the late Calvin Barnes Sr. and Tronette Barnes, was born on April 22, 1975 in Jacksonville, NC. He passed away unexpectedly in the early morning on Saturday, August 10, in Baltimore, MD. Derrick was known to all as a hardworking, humble, dedicated family man and loving husband. He was a man who lived his life with integrity, love in his heart, and a desire to always help others. Derrick never met a stranger and treated everyone as if they were the only person in the room. He was known to sing until he could make you smile. He will be remembered not only for his wise advice and helping hands, but especially for his infectious laugh and for the tremendous love he had for his wife and his daughters. Raised in Jacksonville, NC, Derrick was baptized at New Shiloh Apostolic Church. He was raised in the church from an early age and displayed a talent for playing the drums. He joined the voices of the Shiloh choir as their percussionist. Many times he would stay after church to play the drums. Derrick entered Drexel University in the Fall of 1993 where he was very active in the campus community and his talent at being a musician led him to join the Drexel University Gospel Choir. In true form, he was always the heart and soul of whatever he took part and during his Freshman year he “adopted” 4 other brothers, Ed Montutae, John Randall, John Idi and Dewayne Stewart, all becoming affectionately known as The Pentagon. In March of 1996, after a long Fall Season of 1995, Derrick was initiated into the Philadelphia Citywide Undergraduate Chapter, The Delta Eta of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He was elected Polemarch (President) of the Chapter, an office he held for two consecutive years. He was selected by his chapter brothers to be Step Master of the Delta Eta Chapter Step Team and held the same role for the elite, award-winning, nationally-renowned Philly All-Stars Step Team. Derrick graduated with a degree in structural and civil engineering. His talent for playing the drums would not end with the choir. In 1998, he joined a Spanish gospel group named “Dedicated” (later renamed “Four24”) and would later step into the recording studio, playing the drums for the band’s first ever album, “Libre.” He also recorded tracks with other musicians and played with the hip-hop group “Serengetti.” In 2001, Derrick and Davia met and made an immediate connection they soon became inseperable. Together they raised 3 daughters Dylan, Daryn and Devyn and assisted in coparenting his first daughter Phoebe. Life in their household was filled with music, laughter, dancing and fun. Before his passing Derrick worked for Energy Systems Group as a Senior Project Manager and made numerous friends that embraced him as family. Derrick leaves to mourn his wife Davia and four daughters: Phoebe (22), Dylan (14), Daryn (12), and Devyn (9); mother-in-law: Joan Lilly; siblings: Darryl (Gertrude) Barnes of Jacksonville, NC; Camille (Troy) Sawyer of Richmond, VA; Daphne (Reymond) Moore of Charlotte, NC; Calvin (Crystal) Barnes of Bel Air, MD; and brothers-in-law Sean (Gunella) Lilly and Kurt Lilly; aunts: (maternal) Geneva Pasley of PA; Darletha (Larry) Duggar of Takoma, WA; Deborah (Joseph) Friday of Jacksonville, NC; and (paternal) Gail Smith of Miami, FL; uncles: (maternal) Calvin Booker, George Booker, and (paternal) Robert Grant; nieces and nephews: Tyler, Darryl II, Haleigh, Gabrielle, Shauntell, Whitney, Ebony, Troi, Pierce, Anya, Kira, Carmen, Calina, and a host of family and friends.

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