Sergeant First Class Derrick Le’Shawn Manning McCormick, E7, was born in St. Eugene Hospital, in Dillon, SC, on Sunday, August 7, 1977 at 7:27 p.m., weighing 7lbs, 7oz to Mr. Samuel Lee and Mrs. Yolanda Manning McCormick. He was born a member of Temple of Deliverance Holiness Church of God under the leadership of his grandmother, the late Pastor Katie Mae Carmichael Manning. He departed life on Saturday, November 15, 2014, at the age of 37, in a military related traffic accident at Fort Stewart, in Savannah, GA.
He was a graduate of Dillon High School. He enrolled at Florence Darlington Technical College in Florence, SC, before attending Benedict College in Columbia, SC. In 2000 he made, what he regarded, was one of the best decisions of his life, when he joined the SC National Guard and served until his death.
He was blessed to meet and marry the love of his life, Veronica Nicole Smith. To this union one daughter, Ava Nicole McCormick, was born on December 21, 2011. Derrick was a deeply loved husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, friend, and solider.
He leaves to cherish his memory; his wife Veronica McCormick and daughter Ava Nicole McCormick of the home; a mother, Yolanda and father Samuel McCormick both of Dillon SC.; a sister, Samantha McCormick of Fayetteville, NC; his favorite nephew Stephen “Phew” Turner Jr. of Fayetteville, NC; a cousin/brother Kevin “Phunn” (Stephanie) Jenkins of Dillon, SC; grandparents, Samuel and Susie McKenzie of Latta, SC; a father and mother-in-law, Lula Mae and Thomas Smith; two sister-in-laws, Angela (Darrell) Daney, Michelle (Grant) Gilchrist, of Dillon, SC; one brother-in-law, William (Rochelle) Smith of Dillon, SC; twelve aunts; eight uncles; nine great aunts; four great uncles; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
