Derek Antonio Obituary, Death – However, Serenity, Derek’s daughter, was the center of his universe. Derek and Serenity’s mother, Dena DeWeese, brought Serenity up with an unending supply of love and dedication. Dena was not only the mother of his child, but she was also his best friend through all of the highs and lows of their lives together. Derek was a generous man who, if he could help it, would never allow someone to be in a position where they were without anything. Everyone who knew and loved him will grieve his passing in a profound way.
One of his uncles, as well as both of his grandfathers, both maternal and paternal, have passed away before him. His daughter, Serenity Pedraza, of Temple, his daughter’s father, Jose “Tony” Pedraza and stepmother Lara of Georgia, his daughter’s mother, Isabel Covalt of Temple, his sister Johan Pedraza-Kirby and husband Seth of Gatesville, his brother Eryc Covalt of Temple, and his sister Amanda Pedraza-Johnson and husband Jevon of Temple are the only members of his family still living. They will always treasure his memory. He is also survived by his grandmothers on both sides of his family: his maternal grandmother Isabel Jane Covalt of Oregon and his paternal grandmother Ana Hilda Pedraza-Fernandez of Puerto Rico.
On Thursday morning, the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office made public the name of the man who was found dead on Old Buena Vista Road on Wednesday evening. According to Buddy Bryan, the coroner for Muscogee County, a man named Derek Antonio Jr., 23 years old, was declared dead at 5:40 p.m. due to a gunshot wound. Derek moved to Germany, where his parents were stationed in the military not long after he was born, although first he lived in North Carolina.
family moved back to the United States when he was three years old, settling in Copperas Cove, Texas, where he would spend the rest of his childhood and attend school. His baptism took place at the Episcopalian Church when he was still a little child. Over the previous five years, he was employed by Big Boys Construction, and in his spare time, he undertook independent remodeling projects in the form of kitchen and bathroom makeovers. Derek was a very excellent carpenter who enjoyed the challenge of making this space look as lovely as it once did. He could do just about anything. He was a great cook, and he particularly enjoyed barbecuing. He also treasured the time he could spend with his loved ones and friends.