Derrick Alan Hawes
Derrick Alan Hawes age 51, went to his eternal home on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. His viewing hours will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025, in the chapel of Charter Funeral Home in Calera from 9:30 a.m. until his service of celebration starts at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, in Parkway Memorial Gardens in Warner Robins, GA. Charter Funeral Home in Calera, AL handling the arrangements for the family.
Derrick exemplified what every husband, brother, friend and worker should be in life. Enough great things cannot be said about the type of person that he was. I loved that he was a man of few words yet when he spoke it was meaningful- with heart and humor.
In Loving Memory of Derrick
It’s hard to find the right words to express the loss of someone as special as Derrick. I’ve known him for over five years, and in that time, he became more than just a colleague—he was a father, a mentor, a leader, a brother. He was the heart of our store, the glue that held us all together, and his presence will be deeply missed by every one of us.
His passing was a shock that none of us were prepared for. It’s a loss that will take a long time to come to terms with. The last time I saw Derrick was the morning of the 30th. I gave him a hug, told him I loved you man, and said I’d see him next year. I wish I had said more, but I find some peace knowing I told him how much he meant to me.
Derrick was a guiding light in so many of our lives, offering wisdom, kindness, and unwavering support. He knew how to bring people together and lead with a steady hand, all while making everyone feel valued. He was a true brother to so many, and his legacy will live on through the impact he made on each of us.
Rest in peace, Derrick. You will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Derrick! You were the best little Brother anyone could have. I’m extremely proud of what you became and what you accomplished in life. I enjoyed growing up with you and will cherish each and every one of our childhood memories. You will be greatly missed and I Love you.
Berdina , and family
I don’t know how to find the words to say right now. Other than I’m so sorry for your loss . My thoughts prayers are with you during this most difficult time . Derrick was a good man and you guys made such a great couple .. cling to your wonderful memories . I love you friend
To My Beloved Brother, Derrick
The passing of my brother left me speechless. Derrick had a quiet strength. He was a man of few words. Nevertheless, an amazing husband and co-worker. Derrick took care of his family. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and husband. Derrick will be missed.
Your Big Brother, BT
My heart just hurts. Derrick was more than a manager, he was family. He was so chilled and just all around a great person. We were definitely blessed to have had him in our lives these last 11 years. He will be missed so much! I also would like to send my sincere condolences to his wife and all his family. We love you so much Derrick!
To My Brother, Derrick
The passing of my baby brother left me speechless. Derrick had a quiet strength. He was a man of few words. Nevertheless, an amazing husband and co-worker. Derrick took care of his family. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and husband. Derrick will be missed.
Your Big Brother, BT
It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to my friend Derrick Hawes. Not only was he a loving husband, but an incredible boss and coworker. An honest, kind and dependable friend, and all around good man. His support ,dedication and sense of humor made him a joy to be around.. his kindness and integrity leave a lasting impression on everyone that ever knew him.. all of our prayers and love are with Ms. Berdina and the Hawes family. He will be greatly missed, but his memory will live on with the love he left us. God Bless.
First and foremost. Prayers and condolences to his wonderful wife Mrs. Berdina and the entire family. I was his employee for over 11 years. He was the best of the best. When I lost my mother he was the only manager to reach out and check on me and my family. One of the most sympathetic and empathetic people I knew. He will sorely be missed by his entire staff at calera cracker barrel #558. And will never be forgotten.
I write with a heavy heart to express my deepest condolences on the loss of Derrick. He wasn’t just my boss, he was a mentor, a guide, and a source of light in my professional life. Derrick had a way of making every challenge feel easy, every mistake a lesson, and every success something worth celebrating.
What I cherished most about him was his humor, how he could light up the darkest days with just the right words. I will always remember his jokes, that made me laugh even on my darkest days.
He pushed me to be better and to believe in myself in ways I never thought possible. He had a rare gift for bringing out the best in those around him, and I am so grateful to have experienced that firsthand for a couple of years.
This loss is immense, and I know it will be felt deeply by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and the family during this incredibly difficult time.
I will forever be grateful for the impact he had on my life.
Derrick! You made such an impact on everyone’s life when you were a manger. You were such a great manager and you will never be replaced. I will forever miss you calling me by when you saw me “ MACKEY”!!!. You truly made the work environment enjoyable. You always be remembered for your smile and personality. You are creat missed and the barrel does not feel the same without you.
I met Derrick at a Tacala convention, every since then I called him my brother in-law, Berdina is like a sister to me, I can tell you he was such a humble person, very quiet, respectful and he loved Berdina. His energy was always peaceful, if I can say anything to Derrick, I would tell him that he will be missed dearly by his wife, his family, his work associates and his friends. Brother in-law you fly high with the angel, I know you will check in on Berdina and family as often as you can. I pray that God grants you eternal peace, I’m so glad I had the chance to know you, rest in peace my brother in – law, Mr Derrick Alan Hawes 🙏🙏
I sit here reading all my Cracker Barrel Family’s words and the tears are just streaming down my face currently… I can’t believe you’re gone Derrick. I met Derrick when I started with Cracker Barrel back in July 2019 as the Retail Manager in Calera. We worked together for 4 years before I moved away. He was truly one of the most genuine down to earth people I’ve ever met and he was truly loved by so many people whose lives he impacted daily. He could brighten even the darkest days and make you laugh when things were crazy during the shift. It’s true you never know how precious each and every day or moment you get to spend with someone is so cherish every minute of every day. I wish I would have gotten to visit longer the last time I got to talk to you but I’m forever grateful that I got the chance to see you last month and hug you goodbye though I never thought that would be the last time visiting. My heart goes out to his beautiful wife and family and his work family during this very difficult time. My prayers for peace and comfort to for us all.
I only had the privilege of knowing Derrick since June, when he decided I was worthy enough to join the Cracker Barrel family. But it doesn’t take long to recognize a truly good person—and Derrick was one of the best.
His humor was unmatched. From the way he affectionately joked about the “Derrick tablet” to his lighthearted claims about how handsome he was whenever I asked for it, Derrick always brought laughs to those around him. Coworkers and management alike tell me how he was always cracking jokes in the back of the store with them, brightening even the busiest days. I’ll never forget my very first interaction with him during my interview, where we immediately started joking about my previous job. That was Derrick—always able to put people at ease with his quick wit.
Even in my last conversation with him on Monday morning, he was making me laugh. I made a mistake and jokingly pleaded with him not to fire me. He responded with his signature humor: “I haven’t fired you yet, have I?” and later said “You already did what I asked five minutes ago? Are you trying to make me look stupid Riley?” It’s the little moments throughout the day, filled with his humor and charm, that I’ll never forget.
Derrick was also incredibly talented with technology. Whether it was his seniority and/or genuine skill, he seemed to know every detail of the apps and systems like the back of his hand. If someone needed help with PTO requests or resetting a password (again), Derrick was always the go-to person. I lost count of how many times I heard, “Go ask Derrick” or “Wait until Derrick gets here—he’ll know.” He was so dependable that people would even come in on their days off just to ask him for his help.
The gap he’s left behind is immeasurable. His sudden and tragic absence has left all of us in shambles. Derrick wasn’t just a fantastic hiring manager or a brilliant problem-solver—he was a joy to be around. He was a jokester, a mentor, and a bright spot in so many lives.
His smile, his humor, his constant (and endearing) nagging over the headset, and even the sight of his bright blue car in the parking lot will be deeply missed by everyone at the Calera Cracker Barrel.
I still can’t believe you are gone. This is too soon and I am not ready! You really were a special person. Any one that has every met you can attest to that! I always knew if I had a problem, you were just a phone call away. You were the best problem solver mixed in with a dose of humor. I will cherish all of the memories that we had. From going to the salt mines together in Germany, Birthday parties at Mcdonalds when we were little, walking to school/bus stop together in the snow, getting in trouble when we both decided to skip school but not clue in each other, attempting to stay in the store all day reading books whenever visiting Bigma, meeting our nephew together in the hospital when he was born, aggravating each other – you calling me Roni when you knew how much I hated it, and me calling you the baby boy even though you were older,when I knew how much you hated it. I would give anything to hear you call me Roni again. There are so many more memories that I will keep with me always! You were the best big brother and I will forever miss you!
Love, your little sister