The Herald-News - Obituaries

Wesley Foster Derrick, 63, beloved husband, father, grandfather and retired Deputy Chief of the Atlanta Police Department, died Friday, January 29, 2010 after suffering a stroke several days earlier. Chief Derrick was closely attended by his loving wife of 8 years, Donna Foland, many family members and close friends this week at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta both before and after he lost consciousness.

Mr. Derrick is remembered as a fiercely loyal, steadfast, strong and compassionate public servant, leader and friend who always had a twinkle in his bright blue eyes and a ready smile under his white mustache. Ever the outdoorsman and hobbyist, after retiring from the APD in 2002, Wesley loved to visit Watts Bar Lake in Tennessee with his wife, Donna, where he would indulge his passions of boating, hunting, fishing and hanging out with many friends. His travels also reached across oceans, as he and Donna made an annual trip to Sweden to visit their "Swedish family," the Wales. Although retired, he was never idle and always engaged in hands-on activities ranging from welding to blacksmithing to working on his one-seat airplane. Summing up his outlook, Wesley's favorite saying was, "Is this a great country, or what?" That love for his country certainly extended to his hometown of Atlanta that he served with distinction for many years. Mr. Derrick was born in Atlanta's Crawford Long Hospital on March 14, 1946. He grew up in the city and graduated from Grady High School. He went on to the University of Georgia, graduating in 1969. He tried to make a living as a teacher in Hall County before joining the Atlanta Police Department in February of 1971. He worked his way up from the rank of uniform officer to the detective bureau in both Robbery and Vice, and then became a Vice/Organized Crime Sergeant in the early '80's. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1982 and went back to the uniform division as a watch commander in Zone 3 before being promoted to Captain in 1989 in Zone 5. In 1991, he was promoted to Major in charge of Zone 5 and then in 1994, he was promoted to Deputy Chief, the post in which he served until his retirement in 2002. While clearly an effective police officer and leader in that tough profession, his colleagues say he also loved to tell humorous stories about his job -- the funniest from his days as a Vice detective and supervisor in the late '70's and early '80's. As Deputy Chief, he was instrumental in the planning and success of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games for the APD. He was a member of Spring City United Methodist Church, where he served on the Trustee Committee.

Mr. Derrick was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Onion Derrick and Elizabeth Rawlins Derrick.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Foland; brother, Howell (Pat) Derrick of Franklin, N.C.; sister, Betty Derrick of Jacksonville, Fla.; children from his first marriage, daughter, Betsy (Nicholas) Winsness, and their son Alex all of Atlanta, Ga.; daughter Melissa Sanford and her children Savannah and Steven all of Suwanee; and son Andrew Derrick of Sandy Springs.

The body will be cremated.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. at Spring City United Methodist Church, 245 Church Street, Spring City, TN 37381 with Rev. Dale Wyrick officiating. A reception will follow in the church's Family Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Bettie Brand Mothers' Endowment Fund at the YMCA of Greater Atlanta in honor of Wesley's mother Elizabeth Derrick, 957 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306; or a charity of your choice.

Vaughn Funeral Home of Spring City is in charge of arrangements.