John

Mcalister

Isaiah 41:10 "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"

John Barry McAlister was born June 28, 1959, to Robert Lawrence McAlister and Joan Adeline McAlister (nee Jenkins) in Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, NY. At the age of 2, he went to live with his uncle Julius "Sonny" and aunt Geraldine (Gerry) Jenkins. When his parents and maternal grandparents Julius and Margaret Jenkins relocated from Brooklyn, NY to Rutherford, NJ, at the age of 4 he wanted to move with them after missing his siblings.

Barry attended the Rutherford school system from Washington Elementary School, Union Middle School, St. Mary's Catholic School, and graduated from Rutherford High School. Unlike his older brother's Robert and Derek he wasn't interested in playing sports, he was more interested in sitting in the bleachers being a lady's man.

Growing up he stayed underneath his grandfather where he learned how to fish and was taught the plumbing trade. He attended Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Rutherford, NJ where he served as an acolyte under the leadership of Rev. Raymond Fraizer. One day in 1975, unbeknownst to him he would meet the love of his life Leslie Hazel at a mutual friend's house. He attended Bergen Community College and later decided in 1980 to pursue his plumbing career with Public Service Energy and Gas (PSE&G) Company.

On January 9, 1982, He married Leslie Hazel, followed by the birth of their firstborn John Barry McAlister, Jr. In 1984, the birth of their daughter Brandi Joan-Elizabeth McAlister completed their family. In 1987 they purchased their home in Teaneck, NJ, and raised their family. Barry was famous for his annual cookout's where he welcomed family and friends with love, laughter, and good times. He had a green thumb and enjoyed his "me time" growing his famous collard greens and tomatoes in Barry's Garden. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, drinking his "joy juice", and listening to old skool music. In 1996, he ventured out and decided to start his own business Barry's Heating and Plumbing.

In 2005, he relocated to St. Helena Island, SC where he would reside on The Jenkins family property. He enjoyed going down the road to visit with his Cousin Vera (Sarah) Green and Cousin Nellie Multrie. He spent most of his time during the week laughing, watching TV, and conversing with his Cousin Johnnie Mae and babysitting her brother-in-law, Frank Howard. He spent his retirement years driving his mo-ped, going to Beaufort County Library, and hanging out at Martin Luther King Park. He was a regular fisherman at The County Landing and would often take trips to Emerald Princess Casino where he held VIP status.

He became a member of the Church of Christ under the leadership of Brother James Tillman. On May 4, 2008, he was baptized and soon after led by the Holy Spirit to pursue a degree in seminary at Carolina School of Preaching. Although he did not complete the program that did not stop him from being passionate about spreading the word of God to others. When he visited New Jersey, he attended The House of the Lord Church- Bergen County under the leadership of Dr. Reverend Dawnique Daughtry with his daughter and wife. On what would be his last trip to New Jersey, his good friend Willie "Butch" dropped him off at the train station where he would spend his last days with his daughter and wife.

Barry was full of life, love, and emotions. He loved hard, lived life on his terms, would give you the shirt off his back, and always thought about his family even until the very end. He loved sharing memories about how he used to do his younger cousins, who were more like his sisters, (Yolanda, Nichele, Shonya, and Urbi) hair. He was crazy about his nieces and nephew (Shanique, Janette, Shawn, Erica, Natalie, and Nathan) and grandnieces and grandnephew (Lanasia, Shayna, Jo'Rel, and Solana). He would argue with you, curse you out, and still love you at the same time. He was a complex and one-of-a-kind man who was no stranger at expressing his love and emotions. He will always be remembered and known for his collard greens, Blue Tr7 Convertible, loudmouth, and no filter tell it like it is spirit.

Predeceased in death by his loving grandparents Julius and Margaret Jenkins, his parents Robert and Joan McAlister, his uncle/godfather Julius "Sonny" Jenkins, Jr., his brother Derek McAlister, his aunt Joyce Bell, his sister Michelle Johnson, his cousin Margaret Walker, and his brother Robert McAlister.

He leaves his love and cherished memories with his beloved wife Leslie McAlister, his namesake John Barry McAlister Jr., his devoted daughter Brandi Joan-Elizabeth McAlister, grandbaby Ryleigh Brooke McAlister, mother-in-law Claudia Anthony, his sister Heather Winfield, his aunt Mary Bervine, his uncle Alvin Jenkins, his aunt/godmother Alice Weber, his godchildren Shalina Bell, Tirrel Weber, Lanasia Smith, sister-in-laws Mary Ann Lozada, Valerie Grant, Crystal Grant, and Leesa Grant, his Cousin Cecil Robinson, his sister- friend Debbie Johnson, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and acquaintances.