CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Using music to cope with the loss of his mother and older brother, William Kellibrew says he’s strong because he chose to live on.
After almost committing suicide at age 13, he realized that moment was not supposed to be the end of his life.
Kellibrew sang “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban to a crowd of health professionals, educators and families at the Charleston Civic Center Tuesday, following a moving speech about his journey to find hope after witnessing the shooting deaths of his family members as a 10-year-old in 1984.
“When my mom was shot, she was first to be shot, I thought I was dead,” said Kellibrew.
Jacqueline Kellibrew, 30, was killed along with her son Anthony Cephas, 12, inside their Capitol Heights, Md., home on July 3, 1984. His mother’s ex-boyfriend, Marshall Brent Williams, 43, was their killer. As Kellibrew begged for his life, he thought Williams would shoot him too. Williams took his own life instead.
“To have that gun pressed at my head, it was this forced split and I had to think about it and just save myself. The guilt from that, thinking that I was saving myself and I wasn’t saving my mom or my brother, I lived with, but I didn’t tell anybody,” he said.
Nearly 20 years later, Kellibrew said those horrifying images and years of trauma have transitioned into something he can now use to motivate others in situations connected to domestic violence.
“Healing is possible,” he said. “Hope is evident although sometimes it’s blurry to be able to find that hope, we can often see it in other people.”
Killbrew told the crowd witnessing an event had just as much of an impact on him compared to actually being the person involved. He said it took him years to even begin to cope with the events that took place that day–the gasping for air to tell his neighbors what happened and not wanting to even sit inside a classroom.
As domestic violence and the trauma from it continues to be an issue throughout the world, Kellibrew said the first thing people should do if they encounter a bad relationship, whether they’re involved in it or not, is to recognize it.
“Being a trusted person, figure out how do I not only recognize early warning signs or triggers, but be able to respond to those particular instances,” said Kellibrew.
Kellibrew said he would continue to empowered many through his work, talents and powerful presentations through the William Kellibrew Foundation.
Featured on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2007, Kellibrew’s story has been heard in over 120 countries and listened to by millions.
Tuesday’s presentation was held as part of the Integrated Behavioral Health Conference in Charleston.