Nannie Hill Derry

She was affectionately known as Grandma to not only Mark Filter and his cousins (Brian Bennett, Anjela Bennett, Alicia Bennett, and Shawn Bennett), but also to her great-grandchildren; most notably to Lilyanna Filter, Nadya Filter, Anaya Filter, Zachary Filter, Joseph Filter, and Joshua Filter. She was mother to Jeffrey Bennett, Michael Bennett, Alberta Bennett (deceased), Michelle Bennett, and Derick Derry (deceased). She never missed a birthday, never forgot to say I love you, and encouraged the best in the ones she loved. Those who knew her know her sayings, like Huh, hell. Pay attention; You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a [insert noun]; or God willing and the crick don’t rise. She may have been 4’11’’, but she could instantly put you in your place with her patented “grandma look”. She took meticulous notes of the things she hoped to remember as the years went on. She suffered the loss of her youngest son, Derick, as the result of a fatal car crash in 1991 in Fort Myers, FL. She suffered the loss of her daughter, Alberta “Alley” Walsh, when she was murdered in 2000. Despite those tragedies, she still found moments to smile, moments to enjoy children, encourage others, hope for the best in others, and care for Papa (Kent R. Derry, her husband of 48 years). She had been a resident of Fort Myers, FL since 1975, upon moving from Massachusetts. In her professional life, she was the head chef of the Boston Red Socks at their spring training center in Fort Myers, FL. She was a certified dietary manager at a long-term living care facility. In her earlier years of retirements, she worked as a store manager at Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. She earned her Associates Degree in Nursing, attending an all white college as the first African-American student. On April 18, 2019, she passed peacefully in Hope Hospice of Cape Coral following a month-long struggle to survive while in the ICU. She is deeply missed by her friends and family! 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.