Barrington George Kelly (he would later address himself as “Sir William”) was born July 11, 1944 in Alamance County, North Carolina. He was the fourth child of seven born from the union of Claude Andrews and Lillie Mae Alston. William attended high school in Graham, North Carolina and graduated in 1962. It was upon graduation William began his energetic and very employable life. In New York, “Sir William”, as he was now called, gained employment in the steel industry and remained in the industry for over fifteen years.

In the early 1980’s he became a Court Officer in the NYC Family Courts. In the mid 1980’s Sir William had the opportunity to join Pan Am Airlines. When Pan Am folded, he joined Delta Airlines. When he retired from Delta, Sir William had over twenty seven years in combined service to the airline industry. It was his promotion to Senior Supervising Customer Agent at Delta that gave him the opportunity (at his employer’s expense) to travel nationwide to troubleshoot at Delta’s numerous airport hubs.

As a hobby, Sir William loved to dabble in real estate. It was said he was so good at it he could sell the Brooklyn Bridge twice-to the same person!

God is good and works in ways we can not question. In the 1990’s although they resided only two blocks apart for years and did not know each other, Sir William met Jeannette Smith at a social club and their friendship evolved into marriage.

In June of this year a great man took ill and God called him home September 22, 2008. He leaves to mourn his loving wife, Jeannette; sons, Andre Alston of Jamaica, Raymond S. Smith and his wife Rhonda of Portsmouth, VA; daughters, Andrea R. Lee and husband Dana of Staten Island, NY; Alice E. Smith of Columbia, SC, sister, Maggie Alexander of Burlington, NC; brother, Kenneth D. Alston of Elon, NC; eighteen grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends. Sir William also thought very highly of his nephew Roscoe Alston whom he always considered his brother.

Little is known where the name “Sir William” originated but no better address could be bestowed upon truly a great man. William Andrew Alston did not earn “The Sir”, “The Sir” earned him.

Lovingly Submitted
The Family

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barrington George Kelly, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.