December 30, 2020

Derrick, shown here in a sharp suit, enjoyed dressing well and was known for his impeccable style.

FirstEnergy lost a member of our family on Christmas Day as a result of COVID-19.

Derrick Spivey, advanced distribution instructor, passed away on Dec. 25 after battling the illness.

Derrick, known as “Durk” or “Durkee” to his friends, began his career at FirstEnergy 26 years ago as a meter reader for The Illuminating Company (CEI) and then as an underground electrician. In 2016, he became an instructor in Workforce Development, based at the East 24^th Street Service Center in Cleveland. His coworkers saw Derrick as a dedicated instructor, specializing in training Energy Delivery substation employees, who was passionate about his craft.

Outside of work, Derrick enjoyed remodeling houses and collecting interesting items from them. Family and friends jokingly called him “Fred Sanford,” due to his interest in collecting old stuff.

“Derrick was the go-to guy if anything was wrong or needed fixed,” said his brother, Reggie. “He was known as a ‘Mr. Fix It’ kind of guy and was famous for his sharp outfits whenever he went out on the town. He loved to laugh, he was loved by everyone and he was a reliable friend and brother.”

He is survived by his three children, Damario, Autumn and Ethan.

Additionally, two of Derrick’s close family members are also part of our FirstEnergy family: Derrick’s nephew, Jamail Spivey, underground electrician leader, and Jamail’s wife, Melissa Spivey, distribution technician, are CEI employees.

He will be dearly missed.

To commemorate his life, the FirstEnergy Foundation will be making a $2,500 donation in Derrick’s name to 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc., which is the 501(c)(3) organization chosen by his family.

Employees who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or having difficulty coping during this public health emergency are encouraged to access the Life Resources Employee Assistance Program, or EAP. Free for all employees and household members, the EAP offers counseling, webinars, a variety of articles and a COVID-19 resource page, as well as information on dealing with stress, marital or family conflicts, caregiving, elder and childcare concerns, legal and financial issues and much more.