Keith Chesterton Wallace

Keith Chesterton Wallace passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Keith Chesterton Wallace was born to Lloyd Victor Wallace and Alice Maude Andrews Wallace on May 19, 1949, in San Juan, Trinidad, West Indies. Keith was the eldest of 3 children; brother Barry (who preceded him in death) and sister Arvis. At age 5, Keith's family relocated to London, England, where his father worked as a structural engineer rebuilding bridges in England after World War II. Even at a young age, Keith lived by the motto that "no matter the situation, you must always give your best." His perseverance and dedication to thrive in all situations pushed him to excel academically and athletically, always moving forward through his challenges. Keith attended Edith Cavell secondary school in London, where he competed on the swim team and was an avid soccer player (playing competitively well into his sixties), winning many awards for his outstanding achievements. Keith had an undying love for music and was a self-taught pianist and guitar player. He grew up watching his mother play the piano from a young age and would spend hours at the piano working intently to perfect his craft. Keith's interpretation of sound through the keys would fill a room with uplifting, soul-stirring energy. While accompanying a friend to a music audition for a famous artist, Keith quickly noticed that the organ player had not yet arrived. In a testament to his ability to seize opportunities to share his talent, Keith jumped on the organ without a second thought. As his fingers graced the keys, his skillful playing caught the eye of everyone in the room. Keith’s skill, creativity, and uncanny ability to seize every moment would open many doors for him throughout his life, including touring stints with Marcia Griffiths, known for the electric slide, Johnny Nash, and Bob Marley. Every time you hear the international hit I Can See Clearly Now, you will hear Keith Wallace grace the keys in the background. Keith's journey took many twists and turns as a voyager and student of life, but wherever he landed, his zest for life and determination to do his best allowed him to make irrevocable marks on the world. In 1974, Keith experienced a spiritual awakening and developed a relentless determination to live a life like Christ. He enrolled in Oakwood College (Oakwood University) in Huntsville, AL, majoring in History and Political Science. Keith would later receive a master’s degree in Education Technology. He met his wife, Regina Stenson Wallace, at Oakwood College. Regina saw him playing the piano while looking for an accompanist. They formed a friendship and then fell in love. They married in 1978. In 1978, Keith began his 43-year career as an educator. The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists needed a teacher at Oakwood Academy, and Keith was more than happy to fill that position. He received many calls to teach in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. In 1986, Keith accepted a teaching position at Ephesus Jr. Academy (EJA) in Richmond, VA, where he spent the next 25 years serving the Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist education community. He served as a staff teacher and eventually served as the school's principal. Keith touched the lives of hundreds of students during his time at EJA and led the school through tremendous growth. He received numerous awards for his service, such as Who's Who in Teaching, and multiple spotlights in the Richmond Times for his work with Goodwill Industries, helping students who struggled in math and science. After retiring from EJA in 2011, Keith returned to education in 2016 and began working for J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in the Math, Science, and Engineering department. He also worked for Acewall Scholars as a band and math teacher at Richmond Academy. Keith eventually found his way back to EJA tutoring in math and language arts, still working to change the lives of the children he encountered. While changing the world through education, Keith never forgot his love for music. Keith served the Ephesus SDA Church community and numerous other churches in the Richmond Metro area with his gift of music. He was currently serving as Minister of Music at Promise Land Baptist Church in Amelia, VA. Aiming to have a heart like God's and to be a servant for God, Keith was always willing to give his time and talents with humility and dedication. Keith was also active in Richmond’s theatrical community. His talent for writing and composing music opened the door for him to create the musical score for the documentary The Forgotten 14 and receive a Telly award for those compositions. Heavily invested in the arts, Keith composed music for many other theatrical productions, including Simply Heaven, for Sycamore Rouge, Sweet Chocolate and Seven Christians, and Dreamseller and the Forest Dwellers for The Heritage Ensemble Theatre Company. His most recent compositions were featured in Margarette Joyner's short film Still Fighting and the feature film Hawks Ridge. Keith's artistic interests extended beyond music to the written word. He would often participate in various poetry slams around the city, expressing his love for nature, art, music, and the mysteries of the world. Keith was the lead keyboardist for the band The Earth Tones for many years, and for the past 13+ years, he was a member of the band Quintessential Jazz. Keith also has released many studio recordings. His most notable albums include Meditations on the Sea of Glass, Alice Jus' Travelin, and Seasons a Time To... Keith leaves behind his beloved wife, Regina Wallace, and three daughters he adored, Rachel Wallace, Kalah (Wallace) Kitching, and Keisha Wallace, a son-in-law, Julian Kitching, his baby sister Arvis Wallace, and cherished grandchildren: Samuel Birch, Benjamin Kitching, Rebecca Birch, Jonathan Kitching, David Kitching, Nia Kitching, Tahnia Wallace-Pettus, Danielle Kitching, Aurora Kitching, and a host of nieces and nephews who he loved dearly. We will see him again on that Great Gettin' Up Morning, singing and playing the keys, rejoicing how he made it over. His life was truly an example for us all. Keith lived as an inspiration to many. A dedicated husband, father, teacher, musician, mentor, and friend, his life impacted the world in ways sure to last generations.