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We Are Thankful Because He Lived
You can shed tears that he is gone,
or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,
or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone,
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn back,
or you can do what he would want:
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
Sunrise Sunset
November 6, 1994
March 6, 2014
Mom, Dad, and Christian
Flower Bearers
Friends & Family
Pall Bearers
Friends & Family
Acknowledgement
The family of Derek “Speaker Knockerz” McAllister
acknowledges with deep appreciation and gratitude your love
and concern during their of bereavement. May God richly
bless each of you.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the
former things are passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Two o’clock in the afternoon
Taylor Street Chapel
1831 Taylor Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Lower Richland Chapel
9120 Garners Ferry Rd
Hopkins, SC 29062
BibleWay Church of Atlas Road
2440 Atlas Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29209
Pastor Darrell Jackson, Sr., Senior Pastor
Reverend Andre C. Barnes, Presiding
Pastor James L. Rowson, Jr., Eulogist
Pastor Darrell Jackson, Sr., Senior Pastor
Bible Way Church of Atlas Road
Obituary
Order of Worship
Reverend Andre C. Barnes, Presiding
Pastor James L. Rowson, Jr., Eulogist
Prelude
Processional
Open and Occasion
Selection
Prayer
Reverend Andre C. Barnes
Pastor, Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church
Bishopville, South Carolina
The King’s Chorus
Kingdom Life Ministries
Elder Adeira Black
Kingdom Life Ministries
Old Testament Scripture Elder Tyrone Rose
Kingdom Life Ministries
New Testament Scripture
Selection
Andrew Rowson
Kingdom Life Ministries
The King’s Chorus
Kingdom Life Ministries
Remarks (3 Minutes Each)
On Behalf of the Community
Wayne Henry, Richland School District Two
Shanik Mincey, Hot 103.9
On Behalf of Friends and Fans
Sirod McDaniel
Trey Halley Oswell
Zachary Fulmore
Patrick Scott
On Behalf of the Family
Mesha Wilson, Speaker Knockerz’ Mom
Acknowledgements
Cynthia Hardy
OnPoint Media, LLC
Radio &TV News Personality
Selection Eulogy Shatima Felder & The King’s Chorus
Kingdom Life Ministries
Pastor James L. Rowson, Jr.
Senior Pastor of Kingdom Life Ministries
Orangeburg, South Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina
Committal and Benediction
Recessional
In Loving Memory
Derek McAllister, Jr. who lived in Columbia, South Carolina, sadly passed
away on March 6, 2014 at his home. McAllister was widely known in the
entertainment industry by his stage name, Speaker Knockerz.
Derek McAllister, Jr. was born in New York, New York to Mesha Wilson and
Derek McAllister, Sr. on November 6, 1994. He was educated at Step Up
To Basics private school in New York and moved to Columbia SC where he
attended Ridgeview and Westwood high schools in Richland School District
2. Derek began a professional entertainment career while in high school and
during the final two years of his life, McAllister toured the country under the
stage name Speaker Knockerz, producing and recording a host of records
and music videos. Through YouTube, iTunes, & Amazon his music garnered
more than 12 million views, sales and downloads serving a nationwide fan
base. As a producer, he created beats and tracks for a who’s who list of icons
in the hip hop industry. At the time of his death, Speaker Knockerz had
earned a spot among the music industry’s elite.
downloadable tracks available for sale on iTunes. On his latest single, “Dap
You Up,” posted online just over a month ago, Knockerz shows his lyrical
dexterity over a beat that he produced himself....it’s evident that Knockerz
was no hip-hop neophyte on the mic.”
Billboard says...
”Though unsigned, the rapper’s videos on YouTube average somewhere
between 200,000 to 3 million-plus views each. Soon after his death was
made public, #RIPSpeakerKnockerz became a Twitter trend in the
United States.”
BET says...
”Knockerz was unsigned but had a large following online, with several songs
surpassing a million views each. One track in particular, “Rico Story Trilogy,”
snagged more than 3 million views.”
According to HipHopSince 87 magazine, Speaker Knockerz was one of
the best young powerhouses in the music industry. The magazine wrote
“his talents covered production, writing, lyrical content and flawless
performances. Derek credits his hard work and dedication for everything he
involves himself in to his mother.” His father, who doubled as his manager,
worked with the young artist to develop marketing strategy that led to
dominance in social media and resulting in highly sought appearances in
entertainment venues across the country.
The Source says...
At the tender age of 13 Derek’s parents realized his passion for music when
he started writing rhymes and composing beats on his “hacked Fruity Loop
program.” After a while, Speaker Knockerz’ catchy beats began grabbing the
attention of many nationally renowned artists. He collaborated with French
Montana, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Lil Scrappy and a host of other national and
local recording artists. Although he became a successful producer, Speaker
Knockerz used his skills on the mic to also become a successful rapper,
putting his lyrics to his owns beats creating big club jams like Money, Rico
Story, Dance, and Lonely some of his biggest records to date.
”Thousands have taken to Twitter with the hashtag #RIPSpeakerKnockerz to
express just how shocked they are at the young emcee’s passing. Reactions
range from angry, to confused, to just heartbreaking sadness.
We here at HollywoodLife.com offer our heartfelt condolences.”
He made videos to his songs, and used social media to make himself visible to
the world. As his success grew larger he never forgot his industry inspirations
like the soulful Aaliyah, mega-hit producer Mike Will Made It and his dad,
Derek McAllister Sr. In fact, the senior McAllister’s support and guidance
is credited for helping to launch the young star and keep him humble and
sane in an industry known for it’s chaos. Speaker Knockerz was driven by his
passion for music, making him a one-man band, producer and artist.
Learning of his passing, the following national networks, magazines, websites
and celebrities wrote and broadcast the following:
MTV says...
”The 19-year old spitter wasn’t signed to a major record label, but his
YouTube page includes some 53 videos, including “Lonely” and “Rico Story
(Trilogy),” which have been viewed by underground rap fans 3,000,000
and 3,600,000 times, respectively. At the time of his passing, he had 49
”Soon after his death, fans took part in having the hashtag
#RIPSPEAKERKNOCKERZ trend on the social media twitter. Mournful ending
for a young man with a bright future. Our condolences are sent to the family
of the teenager. Rest In Peace Derek ( Speaker Knockerz ) McAllister. Gone
but never forgotten.”
Hollywood Life says...
Russell Simmons & Global Grind say...
”So sad. Great young talent. RIP Speaker Knockerz”
Derek McAllister, Jr. is survived by his parents Mesha Wilson and Derek
McAllister, Sr., his younger brother Christian, grandmother Nailah Wilson
of New York now residing in South Carolina, grandfather Barry Routh of
Manhattan, New York and a host of other relatives, friends and loved ones.
Memorials may be given to the Speaker Knockerz Memorial Fund for
Aspiring Entertainers.