05/28/2026
Ms. Keaundra Michelle Derico, 32, of Woodstock, Georgia, departed this life on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Michelle passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of music, adventure, and unforgettable laughter. She touched so many lives and will always be remembered for her beautiful spirit, incredible talent, brilliant impressions, legendary sense of humor, and old-school values.
Keaundra Michelle Derico was born on August 22, 1993, in Albany, Georgia, to Michael McAfee and the late Patricia Ann McAfee. Known lovingly as Michelle or Chelle by her family and friends, she was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, partner, and friend.
Michelle accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age and was a member of Christ Harvest Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir.
Michelle was a graduate of Westover High School. She later earned an associate degree from Atlanta Metropolitan State College, a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Grand Canyon University.
A lifelong lover of music, Michelle possessed a rare and gifted ear. She could name the instruments in a track and guess the release year of a song with uncanny accuracy. Her passion led her to write her own songs, compose her own music and lyrics, produce videos, and dream of a career in the music industry. She worked hard to overcome her shyness and perform songs that brought joy to those around her.
Michelle was an adventurous traveler who explored destinations from the coastlines of Albania and Croatia to the wilderness of Alaska. She loved the water, the beach, and the ideal shady waterside restaurant featuring a live band. She wanted to visit every state in the United States and made it more than 80 percent of the way there. Her dreams stretched even further to the historic landscapes of Luxor and the plains of the Serengeti. She also enjoyed occasional fine dining and nice hotels.
Known for her sharp intuition and deep empathy, Michelle had a natural gift for understanding people. People naturally confided in her, and she used to joke about wishing she could have charged everyone for her services. She was planning to become a life coach because she enjoyed helping others. She possessed a magnetic warmth that made children and babies flock to her. She was strong, independent, old-fashioned, and deeply spiritual, with contagious laughter and a brilliant talent for imitations and sound effects. She was profoundly devoted to her mother, with whom she is now reunited.
Welcoming her in heavenly rest are her beloved mother, Patricia McAfee; grandparents, Eula and Silas Moseley, Sr., and Lois and Clarence McAfee; and uncles, Silas Moseley, Jr., Kenneth McAfee, and Roderick McAfee.
Left to cherish her memory are her father, Michael McAfee of Albany, Georgia; partner, Ronald Alber of Woodstock, Georgia; sisters, Shakela Carter of Savannah, Georgia, Tamesha Derkach (Evanna) and Makenzi McAfee of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; brother, Michael McAfee, Jr. of Albany, Georgia; nieces and nephew, Jaidyn, Aeiden, and Makaila of Savannah, Georgia; aunts and uncles, Angela DiLeo (Monroe Jackson) of Gainesville, Florida, Darren Moseley (Trenia) of Augusta, Georgia, Stuart McAfee of Warner Robins, Georgia, and Vickie Jackson (John), Dr. Monique Moseley, Lenora Hicks, Tynese McAfee, Harold McAfee, Randy McAfee, and Gregory McAfee, all of Albany, Georgia; and a host of beloved cousins, extended family, church family, classmates, and friends.
Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 3:00 PM at Christ Harvest Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 1219 Centennial Avenue, Albany, Georgia 31707.
Interment will follow in the Riverside Cemetery, 200 Cotton Avenue, Albany, Georgia.
"For those unable to attend in person, the services will be livestreamed via the Meadows Funeral Home page."
Meadows Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
