Derrick Nolan

Derrick Orlando Nolan was born on August 22, 1966 to Clara A. Queen (Williams) and James A. Nolan, in Women’s Hospital in New York City. He was a beautiful baby, a cute little boy and when he left us, he had grown into a handsome middle aged man, affectionately known as “New York”.

His elementary, junior high and most of his high school education was completed in public and catholic school systems in New York City. After relocating to Nashville, TN in 1984, he was enrolled in Whites Creek High School, where he became a member of the graduating class of 1985.

While in high school, Derrick worked weekends at the Old Spaghetti Factory on 2nd Avenue, and continued there on a part-time basis for several years. After graduation, he sought full time employment, which eventually led him to Presswood & Company (a blue printing firm on 17th & Church Street). He became employed with them in 1987 as a machine operator and remained there until 2010, when the firm closed due to the economic conditions of the day. Within a six month period, Presswood merged in with CCAD Graphics, and Derrick was given an opportunity to continue his employment. Derrick performed his last day of work at CCAD on, Friday, September 27, 2019. In total, he served the companies for 34 years.

As a child growing up in New York City, Derrick was fascinated with the workings of the Transit System, and he learned how to travel around the city by subway and bus, while always collecting an assortment of transit maps. Even as an adult, he still had no problem using public transportation when his car needed repairs.

Derrick loved the simpler things in life; he never envied others for what they had. He only needed some clean clothes (labels never mattered), a car that worked most of the time and a small house, where he surrounded himself with the things that had meaning to him. Derrick loved hockey, baseball, and football, and bowling and he attended sporting events regularly. On Thursday night, he was honored with a tribute during the Predators hockey game at Bridgestone arena.

Along with John Human, Derrick was the co-commissioner of the Nashville Restaurant Softball Association for many years. He took this position seriously as he recruited players from a wide range of restaurant employees to play on competing teams. He also served as moderator for Trivia Games at various locations throughout the city. Throughout his life, Derrick was an avid collector of Comic Books, usually buying two copies of each book (one to read, the other to preserve). In addition to those many activities, Derrick also loved going to the movies and watching his favorite shows on TV.

Derrick is survived by his mother, Clara A. Queen Williams, Nashville, TN; brother & sister-in-law, Chris and Koyanna Williams, Atlanta, GA, step-mother, Gertrude Nolan, step-sister, Teresa Walker, San Antonio, TX, uncle, Steve Nolan, Silver Spring, MD, aunts Barbara Robinson, Jamaica, NY & Veronica Hall, Silver Springs, MD, godparents Veronica Baker, Falls Church, VA & John E. Queen, Silver Springs, MD and a host of cousins, co-workers and friends.