Derrick Andrew Lawrence transitioned into eternal life on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Derrick was the youngest son and child of two, born to Oretha Patricia Woodward and Leonard Noel Authur Lawrence. He was born and raised in St. Thomas on Dec. 30, 1969. He was 54 years old.
After graduating as the valedictorian of his high school class and receiving numerous academic awards, Derrick attended the prestigious Amherst College in Massachusetts. After graduating with a degree in history, Derrick continued to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor, taking science classes at other institutions of higher learning, including Columbia University and the University of Massachusetts. After a few years, Derrick decided to end his pursuit of a career in medicine and went in a different direction where he leveraged his talents for facts by studying companies and investment opportunities and became a day trader. His day trading career afforded him the flexibility to live in various locations, and he used that flexibility to eventually return home to St. Thomas to continue day trading while taking care of his parents. Soon after the passing of his father in 2015, Derrick and his mother moved to Florida as a result of a hurricane that destroyed the family home. Derrick faithfully took care of his mother who became his primary focus as her health declined. After the death of his mother in 2019, Derrick moved to Las Vegas, NV for safer weather than Florida. In 2023, Derrick was diagnosed with cancer which would eventually take his life.
Derrick leaves behind a brother, Donald Lawrence, many cousins, many more friends, and his close friend and college roommate, Marcus Alston.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A service to celebrate Derrick’s life will be held at Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services at 3815 Crown Bay #10, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services.
