William "D" Derek Harden, Sr.

William Derek Harden, Sr. was born to Wilbert and Brenda Harden on February 3, 1963 at Misericordia Hospital in The Bronx, New York. He was named William in honor of his maternal grandfather, but he was affectionately called Derek by all who knew him.

Derek attended New York City Public Schools, P.S. 41, P.S. 103, Olinville JHS 113, and Park West High School. It was at Park West that Derek’s love for cooking began. Derek joined the United States Army on July 30, 1980 as a Food Service Specialist. He completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and enjoyed a tour in Berlin, Germany.

On March 1, 2005, Derek joined in holy matrimony with the love of his life, Carol Mallory. They were soul mates who could look into each other’s eyes and know…

Derek was a loyal and loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, and spending quality time with his family and friends. If you were in his presence, his smile made you feel special. His laugh was contagious and smart aleck comments were his specialty.

Derek was preceded in death by his father, Wilbert M. Harden; maternal grandfather, William Lyons; maternal grandmother, Nettie Leak; paternal grandfather, Philip Harden; and paternal grandmother, Julia Harden.

Left to rejoice with wonderful memories are his wife, Carol Harden; son, William Derek Harden, II; daughters, Angel Destiny Haynes and Victoria Banks; mother, Brenda Harden; sister, Lorye J. Truesdale; nephew whom he helped raise, Jelani D. McGlan; mother-in-law, Irene Mallory; father-in-law, Harrold Mallory; special friends who he considered brothers, Darryn Floyd, James Newkirk, Charles Williams, and Roland Serrano (heavenly angel); two sisters and five brothers in-law, aunts, cousins, and a host of other loving relatives and friends.