Derendia Gail Mize, of Millport, AL., passed away on April 9, 2024 at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Dowdle Funeral Home in Millport, AL. with Bro. Rodney Brazil officiating assisted by Danny Thompson. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service in the chapel. A graveside military service will follow at Millport City Cemetery.

Derendia was the first child of J.T. Johnson, Jr. and Olivia Bobbitt Johnson. She was born at the Millport Clinic on November 12, 1951, delivered by Dr, John Mize, who told Olivia he was going to keep her. When Olivia declined his offer, he replied, "I'll get her someday." That prediction came true when Dr. Mize's son, Johnny, married Derendia in 1971. They were married 43 years until Johnny's death in 2014.

A 1970 graduate of Millport High School, she joined the US Air Force in 1975 and served four years before going into Civil Service and working with the FAA. Her career spanned more than three decades, and took her to Florida, Mississippi, Alaska and a short time in Thailand.

She was a member of Mt. Harmony Freewill Baptist Church, and enjoyed attending weekly service and the monthly Prime Timers gathering.

Retirement was filled with working on her farm and greenhouse, and spending time with her  family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and husband, and is survived by her sisters: Kaye Callahan (Joseph) and Sharron Owens (Ricky) and her sister in law, Melody Peters, all of Millport, and  a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.

Pallbearers are Sam Young, Logan Young, Stephen Guyton, Austin Guyton, Elijah Ybarra and Christian Ybarra.

Honorary pallbearers are Wayne Hildreth, Taylor Hildreth, Dylan Hildreth and the Millport High School Class of 1970.