Derek Summers Jr.

Derek Roszell Summers Jr. -- affectionately known as "DJ" -- was the first-born child to Derek Summers Sr. and Stephanie Johnson-Summers.

He was born Feb. 1, 1991, and departed Sunday, May 30, 2021, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis from complications of COVID-19. DJ bravely endured multiple surgeries and setbacks during his six weeks of hospitalization and had begun rehabilitation. He was determined to make a full recovery. He had started walking again a few days prior to the 30th, walking a longer distance each day.

DJ and his wife, Amy Grace Cunningham Summers, started dating in 2013 and married Dec. 13, 2019. They enjoyed dinners, playing video games, volleyball and being with each other as much as possible. During his hospitalization, Amy temporarily moved to St. Louis to be at his bedside for countless hours, providing emotional and physical care, as well as providing updates for the family.

DJ was well loved and his devoted Aunt Maria flew in from Georgia and also spent countless hours at his bedside providing nursing care and updating his family on his progress.

His Christian faith was very important to him, and he was baptized at Cape First Church in Cape Girardeau in 2014. During the spring of 2014, he was awarded a "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" certificate. He was president of the Remix Young Adults group. DJ traveled to Trinidad in 2014 and Jamaica in 2017 for mission trips.

DJ graduated from Cape Girardeau Central Senior High School in 2009 and Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor of science in computer information systems in 2016.

One of his first jobs was as a receiving associate for Sears. Prior to his hospitalization, he was employed as a web developer for Big River Communication.

He loved fried chicken and more fried chicken with waffles!!! DC Comics and Marvel Universe Comics were a joy for him, and he loved dressing in Batman paraphernalia.

Everyone who knew DJ knew he was a quiet, kind, friendly and stand-up guy. He enjoyed playing video games when he had free time.

DJ was preceded in death by his grandfather, Charles L. "Paw-Paw" Johnson Sr., and grandparents, Willie and Versey Summers.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Amy Grace Summers; his mother, Stephanie Johnson-Summers; his father, Derek (Tanya) Summers Sr.; sisters, Brittani Summers (fiance Demetrius Cannon), Alexis Summers (Jake Fuemmeler) and Emani Summers; bonus brother, Perry "P.J." Harris Jr. and Brittany, and their children; niece, Makenna; nephew, Myles; grandmother, Sallie Johnson; uncle, Charles (LaSaun) Johnson; cousins, Morgan and Maya Johnson; aunts, Sandra, Valerie and Maria Summers; uncles, Clyde and Claude Summers; aunt, Gloria (Ira) Johnson; and uncle, Jerome Maclin Jr.

D.J.'s family would like to thank Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau and Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for the excellent medical care and their valiant efforts to save him.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. The family requests face coverings be worn during the visitation.

There will be no public funeral service.

Burial will be private at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.