Derek E. North was born on December 26th‚ 1974 to Jimmy and Judy North of Stockton‚ Georgia. Derek married the love of his life‚ Ruby Gray‚ on September 10th‚ 1994. Together they have two children‚ a beautiful baby girl‚ Kelsey and a handsome baby boy‚ Justin.

On February 23‚ 2009 Derek was sadly taken from his family friends and loved ones due a tragic accident at the age of 34. Derek had always talked about following his father’s footsteps and becoming a firefighter‚ as most don’t know Derek’s father was the chief of the volunteer fire department where he grew up. But like most young people life took him in many different directions‚ he became a husband and father at a young age. Derek’s dreams were put on hold‚ due to a job that moved him around. At the early age of sixteen‚ Derek began working as a bag boy at a local grocery chain‚ Harvey’s Supermarket‚ where he later worked his way up to become the store manager. H worked there for 18 years. In November 2003‚ Derek got the news that he could transfer back home and it was the happiest day of his life. He came home that day and said ‘I can join the fire dept with my dad now.’ He proudly served 5 years with his dad and younger brother; and 3 years with his wife and older brother. All together he served with four of his family members on the Stockton Volunteer Fire Department.

Derek loved life‚ and any community he lived in. He was super involved‚ from coaching the kid’s ball teams‚ to volunteering to raise money for muscular dystrophy‚ relay for life‚ and anything else that had to do with the children in his community.

Derek loved the outdoors‚ hunting‚ fishing‚ dog-hunting‚ skeet shooting at family gatherings‚ baseball and shooting his bow and arrow with family. He would have gladly lived outside if he could. Except for not being able to watch hunting shows indoors.

Derek achieved many great accomplishments in life‚ he was valedictorian of his graduating class of 1993‚ where he went on to achieve many things in his work career.

Derek was extremely close to his family; he is survived by his wife‚ two children‚ mother and father‚ three brothers‚ sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws‚ many nieces and nephews‚ and many cousins that considered him more like an uncle. He attended every family gathering‚ where he loved playing ball with the kids and going out swimming his brothers in the river.

Memories last for a lifetime and there are many things that won’t be forgotten. He would take the younger kids fishing and teach them to shoot BB guns and clay targets. Derek loved nothing more than to be standing beside a grill. It didn’t matter what food it was‚ he would find a way to grill it. The favorite memory comes to mind on those winter nights‚ sitting around a bon fire at the hunting club with friends and family. Nothing else would do when there was heat from the fire‚ a cold beer in his hand‚ and country music blaring from his truck. We’ll never forget the cold mornings‚ waking up before sunrise to go looking for deer tracks – in thirty degree weather with the windows down‚ hoping that we find something so we could get back to the house.

Derek will be missed greatly by many but never forgotten. His love for life‚ firefighting and helping others will live on.