Longtime Athens musician and promoter Derek Wiggs died suddenly in the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 1 following a medical emergency. News of his passing spread quickly, and sent shockwaves through both the Athens music scene and his extended musical family around the country.
Derek was the brains and founder behind the wildly popular and DIY-centered event Slopfest, played bass in Shehehe for several years, and can be credited for the existence of several bands simply because he encouraged them to form and/or perform. For the past decade he worked at the Last Resort. Beloved by his friends and acquaintances, who easily numbered in the hundreds, Derek was universally known as a very sweet man and loyal friend who always had an encouraging word, a shoulder to lean on, and a helpful hand to lend. His love of Green Day, the New York Mets and his dog Hojo are among the most sharply recalled and shared memories from his friends. Derek was blessed in life to be loved so dearly by so many and, in turn, those who knew him were equally blessed. He was 38 years old.
Visitation will be held at Crowell Brothers (5051 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Peachtree Corners, GA) on Sunday, Oct. 9 from 4–8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church (6260 The Corners Parkway, NW in Peachtree Corners) on Monday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. Interment at Crowell Brothers will follow the mass. A reception and celebration of Derek’s life will then be held at the Pavilion at Berkeley Lake (4043 S. Berkeley Lake Rd., NW in Berkeley Lake, GA) from 12–4 p.m.
An additional memorial will be held in Athens at Little Kings Shuffle Club on Monday, Oct. 24 from 6 p.m.–12 a.m.
Online condolences can be shared at crowellbrothers.com. In lieu of flowers, donations made to We Rock Athens (girlsrockathensga.org) in Derek’s memory are appreciated by his family.
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