Derek Emil Batts, II, age 5, of Leesville, went to Heaven to be with the
Lord on March 16, 2013. Derek was born in Fort Polk on August 15, 2007. He was a kindergartener at North Polk Elementary School, Fort Polk. Little Derek was an avid sports player, receiving numerous awards and recognition for his participation in
soccer, basketball, baseball, and football with the Fort Polk Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Youth Sports Program. He was active in his church Youth Program, and he loved playing his drums, keyboard, and reading with his sister.
Derek is
survived by his parents, Derek Emil, Sr. and Quiana Batts; sister, Christina Batts; and his grandparents, Kathleen Batts of Daleville, Ala. and Martha Royal-Crosby of DeRidder; and his uncles, Levurne Batts III of Cartersville, Ga., and Bernard Royal
of El Cajon, Calif. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Levurne Batts, Jr. of Daleville, Ala.; and maternal uncle, Norman Royal, Sr. of New Orleans.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on March 23 at the Resurrection
Life Worship Center, located at 608 Nolan Trace in Leesville, with Dr. Ronald Hamm officiating. Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on March 22 at Labby Memorial Funeral Home in Leesville. His final resting place will be in New Orleans;
services are under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville.
Words of comfort may be expressed to the Batts Family at www.labbymemorial.com.