Drew Derwood Strain , 82, passed from this life peacefully at home on Monday, July 2, 2018.

Derwood was born August 12, 1935, to Emmie Sanders and Ernest Duel Strain. He attended Morgan City High School where he excelled at several sports. He was awarded a football scholarship to Sunflower Junior College and later to Delta State College, where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in business. Derwood and his wife, Polly Moore Strain, returned to Morgan City to the family farm where they would raise their children. After his father's retirement, Derwood continued to farm the family land and expand his farming interests which included cotton, corn, rice, soybeans, and catfish. Derwood's farming ventures included his son, Dink, and grandson, Drew, as well as a partnership with longtime friends, Solon and Steve Scott.

Derwood served on the board of First South Farm Credit from 1990-2006. He was also a member of the Greenwood Farmer's Club, Delta Wildlife, and Delta Council.

As a boy, Derwood joined the Morgan City Baptist Church, but for the last 62 years, he was a faithful attendee of the Itta Bena/Morgan City Presbyterian Church.

In addition to his parents, Derwood was preceded in death by his daughter, Hart Howard, and brother, Dibrell Strain.

Survivors include his wife; daughter, Dot Miller (Mark); son, Drew "Dink" Strain (Melanie); grandchildren, Drew Howard (Katherine), Edi Mcllwain (Andrew), Oliver Williams (Julia), Garner Williams (Martha), Ann Kathleen Strain, Emmie Daugherty (Barrett), and Arie Strain; great grandchildren, Graham Howard, Strain Howard, Story Jacobson, Olivia Mcllwain, Beckett Mcllwain, Lawes Mcllwain, Bette Stone Mcllwain, Elizabeth Magee Williams, Mary Thorne Williams, Poppy Williams, Jack Daugherty, and Cappel Williams; sister, Dorothy Braswell; and a host of special nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are Barrett Daugherty, Drew Howard, Graham Howard, Strain Howard, Andrew Mcllwain, Bailey Patridge, Stewart Patridge, Garner Williams, and Oliver Williams.Honorary pallbearers are Bo Branch, Bill Bridwell, Wayne Bush, James Dunn, Charles Montgomery, Tommy Muirhead, Fred Jones Poindexter, Bardin Redditt, Solon Scott, Steve Scott, Billy Walker, and Wayne Walker.

Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 5, 2018, at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home in Greenwood. Funeral service, officiated by Glen Barlow and Larry Littlejohn, will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with interment following in Itta Bena Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Lillie Hilton, Sherron Wright, Continue Care Home Health, Halcyon Hospice, Fresenius Medical Care, and Dr. Charles Nause and staff for their special care.

Memorials may be made to Batson Children's Hospital, French Camp Academy, Pillow Academy, or a charity of your choice.

Wilson & Knight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.