Biography:
Derrick Milton Atkins was the son of Daniel G. Atkins. His father Daniel was a military soldier with honorary discharge with Bronze Star. Daniel was employed, and retired from The New York City Transit Authority and passed in 1994. Ozella Randall-Atkins, Derrick’s mother, was a stay-at-home parent, and dedicated woman of God who was faithful to her son’s growing up in his state of Autism. She passed on December 25, 2012.
Derrick, 68 years old was born on September 07, 1954. He was a member of Holy Cross Church in the Bronx. He was a gentle giant of a person who never had a bone of hatred in his body, as he endured a life of silence because he never accomplished the developmental speech patterns to verbally communicate with most people that knew him. In his own way he knew what to say to those who grew up close to him. To know him was to understand his pure innocence, love for his mother, and life as he knew it best in silence.
A host of people survive Derrick. He leaves us ‘speechlessly’ after going to sleep on Thursday, November 03, 2022 (at approximately 1:47, in the afternoon). He loved to listen to Jazz Music; and we believe that he has finally taken a ride on the “A” Train (by Duke Ellington).
He is survived by his sibling brothers and sister. Darryl, Daniel, Dennis, and Dawn Atkins-Singh. He, also, leaves a host of other relatives that were close to him and had experienced his life of silence in life. They are his nephew Daniel Atkins Jr (father to his son Daniel J. Atkins); His nieces Ruth Denise Banks (mother to Maylon, Zhyir, Naoj, and Vaughndre). His niece Dabari Singh-Morgan, of which he knew very well (especially during her younger years with the family). In addition to them, he leaves a host of cousins (which are many), and his aunt Saundra Penn Randall (whose laughter made him smile at times as he danced).
All, of these whom he would have enjoyed seeing in person on this very day in person. But even though he is not able to be with us today in the body; his memory shall always be with us in our hearts and mind as we have experienced his presence in our own individual way.
Derrick was a gentle giant of a person as he lived silently throughout his entire life. He will be sorely missed by many as he has travels along the way in the shadows of a time and memory of those who knew him well; and as he leaves a world where so much hate and chaos exist. Earth’s lost is Heaven’s gain. We will love him throughout eternity, as God continues to work with all of us whom he leaves behind today.
