The Life and Times of 
Sir Keithlyn Smith.

Sir Keithlyn Smith, was born in March 1938.  He was a one-and-a-half-year-old baby when World War II started in September 1939.

The Caribbean was very affected by the war, even though the history books may not have given much weight to the participation of the Caribbean islands, whose citizens were also citizens of the some of the European countries involved in the war, particularly Great Britain and France. Many Caribbean born citizens  also fought on behalf of their respective “Mother Countries”. The oceans surrounding the Caribbean were battleground for the world powers. One of the last conversations we had with dad was about the German seafaring vessels that plagued the Caribbean waters and the fact that many vessels are on the ocean floor as a result of bombings on the open sea.

Many of the hardships experienced by Caribbean citizens as a result of the war was never documented in any history books that we read, however, Sir Keithlyn lived it as a child. New to the world, during World War II,  he had a remarkable recall of life in his early beginnings when poverty was the law of the land. Amid this adversity, his parents tried to raise him close to God and give him the best care possible under the circumstances. His mother was very protective and tried to shield him from the harshness of life. However, he was raised in a world where the scars and markings of World War II left an indelible impression on him. The stark reality of poverty and scarce resources during his childhood remained with him for his entire life. He viewed poverty as a scourge of the human race, to be eradicated. He was raised on high principles of hard work and sacrifice and altruism. Sir Keithlyn was born to serve and serve he did in many capacities. He faced life head on for as long as he could and bore the mantle of his responsibilities and life’s mission with a strength almost unknown today.

Life was not always about hardships, although they were ever present. Sir Keithlyn loved to laugh at others and himself. He would recall humorous situations from by gone days, some he experienced firsthand, some were handed down to him. His house rocked with laughter, like his parents’ before. People would seek him out just to have him re-tell an old joke and watch him reenact it for them, calling on his acting skills. If you listened closely to his memorial tributes, you would hear the common thread of his humor winding through them even in the most serious situations.

Sir Keithlyn was never quiet, he had a loud voice and a forceful passion for what he believed was right. He used his voice and words as a force for good and would consistently find the most powerful words to respond to any situation, whether verbal or written. He was a craftsman, and he used his craft for the written and spoken words to leave behind a legacy that is just beginning to take flight. 

His wife, Evelyn Lady Smith and their children and grandchildren loaned him to the world and watched in awe as he tackled life. People from all walks of life made tracks to his door for his counsel. At home, at work, on the streets, in church, on the beach, in restaurants, at the airport, during his travels abroad. He wasn’t safe anywhere from recognition.

The telephone would ring all hours of the day and night, seven days a week. The door would knock all hours of the day and night, seven days a week. His wife and children tried to convince him to get an answering machine, but he refused. He believed in dealing with each and every person individually and face first. He would only turn away the truly disrespectful or someone who actively demonstrated their lack of gratitude.

Sir Keithlyn always allowed people to go their way when it comes to spiritual beliefs, but he never abandoned his faith. He realized that God gave free will to all to do right or wrong. It pained him greatly when family and community took missteps and refused outright to do what’s right, but he would live by his principles even if it cost him. He watched a world yield to expediency, where the honor system became a thing of the past. He wanted Antiguans to help and uplift each other. He saw an island losing touch with its foundational past and hoped that his books would show them the way back to realization of their worth.

Sir Keithlyn, in keeping with his life’s purpose transitioned on July 31, 2020, on Watch Night, 186 years after that very first Watch Night in Antigua, on July 31, 1834 when soon to be former slaves stayed awake all night into August 1, 1834 to “watch” the dawn of their emancipation. We invite everyone to read the works of Sir Keithlyn. They are a reminder to honor the past, not relive it, and be grateful for the present. He is no longer of this world, but he left a legacy for others to follow in his footsteps by carving out their own path to self-discovery, self-love and self-respect.