July 29, 1972 - March 14, 2025
April 5th, 2025 at 11:00am
Mount Calvary Baptist Church
1111 36th St, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Order of Service
- Elder Taaka Fields, Pneuma Dwelling Place Ministries
Musical prelude
Praise Declaration - We Have Hope - Amelia Doyling
Prayer - Minister Patricia Thomas
Song - Unity Deliverance Empowerment Center, Inc.
The Holy Scriptures
Old Testament - Elder Rosalind Bennett
New Testament - Marcus Sherrod (nephew)
Song - Zinnia Peeples (niece)
Reflections (2 minutes)
Ebony Sherrod (niece)
Lori Jones (sister-friend)
Kim Sunarth and Astral Holt (co-workers)
Poem - Joshua Clark (godson)
Tribute - The Sister Circle of Friends
Song - Unity Deliverance Empowerment Center, Inc.
Words of Comfort - Evangelist Deborah Skinner (sister-friend)
Acknowledgements - Brown’s Funeral Home
Eulogy - Elders David & Michelle Clark
Changers Worship Center, Delray Beach, FL
Reflection of Life
Derevia Denise Sherrod, affectionately known as "Dee," was born on July 29, 1972, in West Palm Beach, Florida, to Ben Edward Sherrod and Lillie Mae (Williams) Sherrod. Dee was the youngest of ten children, a beloved and essential part of their family, who brought them joy and a sense of completeness.
At a young age, Dee embraced Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and her unyielding faith remained a pillar of her identity throughout her life. Derevia was known to pray for family, friends, strangers, as well as enemies, offering divine words of encouragement, edification, and enlightenment to others, even during her own times of pain and challenge. Dee was truly a prayer warrior and a Christian example for all to emulate!
Derevia began her education in Palm Beach County Public Schools (Westward Elementary, Golfview Middle, and John I. Leonard High School) and ended with a private school education at Saint Augustine’s College, in Nassau, The Bahamas in June 1990. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in May 1995. Dee's approach to her career mirrored her personal life: full of zeal, enthusiasm, and love. No job was too small, and she was always eager to learn and train for new roles. Her varied work experience included leadership positions in banking, as well as roles in housekeeping, the restaurant industry, photography, retail, and parks and recreation. She was a skilled and accomplished bank manager that worked with institutions such as Ocwen Federal Bank and Bank of America, but her true passion was living into God’s purpose and positively impacting the lives of His people.
Derevia’s selfless nature shone through in her interactions with others. She was known for her prophetic insights, encouraging words, prayers, hugs, and ever-present smile, which she shared freely even on her most challenging days. Her colleagues and customers admired the dignity, devotion, and dedication she brought to her work each day. Dee's love for people was evident, and she was beloved in return. Her presence was a source of comfort and strength to those around her. Dee nurtured and imparted wisdom to many, acting as a mother figure even to those who were older than her.
Dee's most cherished achievement in life was the birth of her son, Austin Nicoli Jordan Studstill, in March 2007. Austin was her pride and joy, and she dedicated her life to raising him into a remarkable man. Dee worked hard to ensure Austin had every opportunity to succeed, and her efforts paid off as he consistently made the honor roll, shone brightly on robotics teams, in school clubs, summer jobs and more recently with his acceptance to college for Engineering. Dee was always happy to share Austin's accomplishments with others, and she beamed with pride when she spoke abou
Reflection of Life
In August 2014, she moved from WPB, Florida to Georgia, with her mother and son to start a new job and embrace new opportunities for their lives. For ten and a half years, Dee lived in Rex and Ellenwood, and enjoyed life to the fullest with no regrets. Never a ‘stranger’ she met, she ministered to many people, and comforted many souls, majority of whom later became her dear and devoted friends.
In 2019, Dee received the devastating diagnosis of Breast Cancer. She stayed positive, continued to fight the battle, prayed and praised throughout her treatments and fought to the very end. However, on March 14, 2025, she answered the ordained will of the Lord, surrendered her spirit and received eternal life. Dee passed away peacefully at home in Ellenwood, Georgia, surrounded by her loving family (biological and extended).
Dee was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, sister-in-law, godmother, great-aunt, co-worker, and friend whose presence left a lasting impression on all who knew her. She is dearly missed by her family and friends. Dee is preceded in death by her loving parents, and three brothers: Cleveland Williams, Sr., Ed Willie Sherrod, and Seabron Sherrod.
Dee leaves to cherish her precious memories
Her loving and adoring son, Austin
Six brothers: Bennie James (Beth) Sherrod, Herman (Deborah) Sherrod, Lee
Arthur (Diann) Sherrod, Donald Sherrod, Anthony (Elizabeth) Fields Sr., and Larry (Desmar) Fields, Two sisters: Gloria J. Sawyer, and Nancy L. Howard; Three special sons/nephews: Virgil (Patricia) Sherrod, Stephon (Ruby) Littles, and Renford (Roy) Davis; Two special daughters/nieces: April E. Finlayson and Tyus Williams; the sister circle: Michelle Clark, Deborah Powell-Skinner, Katrina Blackmon, Kimberly Williams, and Trina McCray; Three adoring godsisters: Priscilla Coney, Gwendolyn Bowers, and Lettreva Ries. Four aunts: Ollie Mae
Hill, Edwina Williams, Annie Bell McBride, and Vernell Sherrod; One uncle: Wyatt (Karen) Williams III; A godmother: Martha Bowers; A devoted niece: Taaka Fields; Devoted cousins: Janet and Barry Bullock and Truvonda Harrison-Taylor; Special godparents: William “Von” and Margaret McElroy; Dearest co-workers; Kawonna Waters Mack, Astral Holt, Kim Sunarth & Candence Hollis; and, a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, co-workers, family members and friends.
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Austin N. J. Studstill, Bennie James Sherrod, Herman L. Sherrod
Lee Arthur Sherrod, Donald B. Sherrod, Kim Sunarth
ACTIVE PALLBEARERS
Virgil L. Sherrod, Stephon J. Littles, Renford Davis, Courtney Mitchell
Anthony N. Howard II, Roy Blackmon-Davis, Mark Kent
FLOWER ATTENDANTS
Ashleigh N. Howard, Jonina Bullock, Dorien Bullock
D’Maurya Skinner, Candence Hollis, Ebony Sheffield
Melissa Gray, Stephanie Burton
INTERMENT
Royal Palm Memorial Gardens
5601 Greenwood Avenue
West Palm Beach, Florida 33407
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The family of Derevia “Dee” Denise Sherrod would like to extend our heartfelt sincere appreciation and gratitude to our many family members and friends for all the prayers, acts of kindness, calls, messages, words of encouragement, visits, cards, and food provided during our time of bereavement. It is our prayer that The Lord will continue to shower you with blessings.
We offer a special thanks to Bishop W. Oshea Granger and the Mount Calvary Baptist Church community. Your hospitality and services provided prior, during, and after our loved one’s Celebration of Life are appreciated beyond words!
REPAST
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
1111 36th Street, West Palm Beach, Fl 33407
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO Brown’s Funeral Home
“Professional Service You Can Trust”
1004 S. Dixie Highway, Lantana, Florida 33462
Tel: (561) 533-5256 / www.bfhlantana.com
