Derek Monroe was born on October 26, 1968, to Anita Roberts Monroe and the late Willie Herman Monroe. He accepted Christ at an early age at Greater New Bethel Baptist Church. He attended and received an education in the Jasper Independent School District, where he graduated, Class of 1988. He later moved to Dallas, Texas, where he gained employment with various companies, mainly Mary Kay Cosmetics and FedEx, where he remained until his health failed. He later joined Third Avenue Missionary Baptist Church.

Derek was preceded in death by his father, Willie Herman Monore; his paternal grandparents, Herman and Audrey Monroe; his maternal grandparents; and several aunts and uncles.

He leaves to cherish his memory: mother, Anita Monroe; brother, David Roberts (Chandra) and Brandy Ray (Tim) both of St Louis, MO; sisters, Ouida Cook (Kevin) of Galveston, TX, LaSonja Rawls of Dallas, TX, and Detra Monroe of Jasper, TX; special aunts, Helen Monroe and Lucetta Malone, both of Dallas, TX, and Edna Macklin of Memphis, TN; special uncles, Jessie Monroe (Connie) of Balch Springs, TX, and Earnest Monroe (Blendia) and Harvey Hawthorne, both of Jasper, TX; maternal uncle, Fredrick Roberts, and aunt, Beverly Valentine (Tony), both of St. Louis, MO; special friends, Rodney Coleman, Revon Limbrick, Vincent Edwards, Vick Albert, and Drenda Snead and her children, Christopher and Kristy Snead; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.