Derell Dut Malik Brooks

Derell “Dut” Malik Brooks, born January 9, 1996, was a proud native of New Orleans whose life was woven through family, music, and community. Known to many as “Dut,” he carried the musical legacy of his family as the grandson of respected New Orleans jazz guitarist Detroit Brooks and was part of a circle of friends, fellow musicians, and colleagues who admired his presence and company.

Derell was a devoted son to Shantel Brooks Mitchell and Damon Mitchell, Sr., and a caring brother to Deyonce Mitchell, Tamia Gray, Damon Mitchell, Jr., and Damon W. Mitchell. He is also remembered by grandparents Sandra Keller Brooks and Detroit Brooks, Sr., along with a wide circle of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Those closest to him recall his warmth and the quiet ways he showed up for family and community.

Professionally and in his community life, Derell was connected to local institutions and people who mattered to him — including colleagues at the U.S. Postal Service and the New Orleans Jazz Museum, and musicians with whom he shared his love of the city’s rich musical traditions. His companion, Brechele Gordon, was among those who stood with him in life and in remembrance.

A celebration of Derell’s life was held on June 24, 2022, at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, followed by interment at St. Louis Cemetery No. 2. Friends, family, fellow musicians, and members of several local churches gathered to honor his memory and the relationships he cherished. Though his life was cut short on June 8, 2022, the connections he made — to family, to music, and to the New Orleans community — remain a lasting testament to who he was.

Derell is remembered with love by his family and the many people whose lives he touched. His memory endures in the music, stories, and quiet moments he shared with those who knew him.