Derek Palmer

Derek Anthony Palmer, age 54 of Brunswick, died Saturday April 9, 2011 in Brunswick. He was born August 7, 1956 in Broken Hill and lived in Kitwe and Mufalera, all in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). He went to high school in Johannesburg, South Africa and then came to the United States where he attended college in Birmingham, Alabama. He was most recently from Brunswick, GA. He had a sharp mind and was a gifted athlete, especially in cricket, rugby and soccer. He was formidable as a chess player. Derek was kind, generous and a gentleman. He was fiercely loyal and hardworking. He is loved and missed and irreplaceable.
He is survived by his mother Vi Lennon of Dayton, TN, his brother Michael (Betty) Palmer of Dayton, nephews Matthew (Amy) Palmer of Tampa, FL and Rob (Beth) Palmer of Chattanooga, niece Rachael (Jonathan) Bailes of Chattanooga and great-nieces Kate, Aubrey and Elizabeth.
There will be a memorial service Friday, April 15 at 4:00 pm at Rhea Memory Gardens on Hwy. 27 in Dayton. In case of inclement weather, the service will be in the chapel of Vanderwall Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International (http;// www.gideons.org/HowYouCanHelp/Give.aspx ) or to the Women’s Care Center in Dayton (285 Main St., Dayton, TN 37321).
Please share your memories of Derek on his on-line guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com .
The family is being served by the Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, TN.