William McAllister was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey on April 27, 1972 to Emanuel Cyrus, Sr. and the late Barbara McAllister. He grew up in the Maguire Garden Homes in Camden, New Jersey, but moved to Blackwood during his elementary school years. He attended and graduated from Highland High School in 1991. Will was a true scholar/athlete, receiving honors from the National Merit Association for Academic Excellence, while playing baseball, basketball, football and spring track. He became the first 1000 point scorer in Highland boys basketball history on February 28, 1990. Will was later inducted into Highland High School's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.

Will attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. While there, Will joined the basketball team, playing former legends such as Aaron McKie, Matt Mahoney and Vic Carstarphen, earning the Men's Ivy League Rookie of the Year Award in 1991. The Philadelphia Inquirer dubbed him "Will The Thrill!" after scoring a 30 point game. The brotherhood he developed at University of Pennsylvania was priceless! Will was a founding member of the Taste of Chocolate "The TOC"! This was a group of black men on campus that bonded over being considered handsome dark-skinned brothers. Their bond continued beyond college, vacationing together and celebrating life's events.

Upon graduating from University of Pennsylvania, Will worked as a paralegal for a number of law firms including Ballard Spahr LLP in Philadelphia, PA; Pryer Cashman LLP in New York, NY, and STV Inc. in New York, NY. At the time of his death, Will worked as a paralegal for Tenaglia & Hunt, P.A., where he was revered as a valuable asset to the firm.

Will was a proud Marine. When asked why he joined the Marines, he stated that while working in Manhattan at the time the towers were hit on 9/11, he decided at that moment to serve and defend his country. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in March 2004 and was honorably discharged in March 2012 as Corporal William McAllister.

Will had a genuine love for fishing, guns and his bucket hats. His collections of fishing gear, guns and bucket hats were unmatched. You could always catch him fishing- sometimes alone at a neighborhood watering hole, or sea bass and blue fishing on the deep sea with Preston and LA, even though he rarely came home with fish! Will would spend hours on the phone with Mr. Brown discussing their gun collections. He acquired the nickname "Foot" after the character Mud Foot from Fat Albert because of the way he wore his bucket hats.

Will loved his family and friends deeply and showed it in many ways- from taking Jessica to see her 1st movie, Mrs. Doubtfire; to Thanksgiving dinners at the Brown's and Christmas dinners at Ebony's; barbecues and birthday parties at Preston and Michelle's; to hanging out and playing pinochle and spades with Gene, Preston, Malik, and Tim at the Brown's. Will was also a die hard Miami Dolphins' and true Star Wars fan and shared this love with his bonus child, Ebony, watching Star Wars prequels and Return of the King at the AMC in Times Square.

On August 1, 2025, Will was called HOME to be with the Lord. He was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara McAllister, his beloved grandmother, Anna Mae McAllister; grandfather David McAllister, Sr., Uncle Allen "Rocky" McAllister (Paulette), Uncle David McAllister, Jr., Uncle James McAllister; Aunt Denise McAllister, Aunt Ephesian Cyrus, brother Michael and cousin Steven.

He leaves to cherish fond memories his father Emanuel Cyrus, Sr. (Sheila), stepfather Michael Butynes, siblings Trimika, Emanual, Jr., Linda and Catherine; uncle Jimmy; cousins Preston (Michelle), Ebony, Jason and Jessica; special bonus children Ebony, Essence and Najée; and a host of extended family and friends.

Respectfully submitted,

The Family