Andre Michael Kirksey

Andre Michael Kirksey, Sr., loving husband of the late Leonor Sevilla Kirksey, born November 14, 1965, at Freidman’s Hospital, now Howard University Hospital, in Washington, D.C., to Tommie Lee Kirksey and Patricia A. Body, was received in heaven on Monday, February 22, 2021. Andre was baptized at the very young age of six, together with his sister Denise, at Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Andre and Denise were very close. He called her “stink” and she called him “boy.” When Katrina was born, which he called “Boo Boo,” Andre and Denise were jealous of all the attention she was receiving from their parents. Andre talked Denise into playing catch tossing Katrina back and forth. This only lasted a few seconds because Andre accidently dropped her. Andre was so afraid Katrina was hurt that he vowed from that day forward he would always protect her. Andre enjoyed telling Katrina that story every chance he got. Andre attended public school in both Maryland and Alabama. He aspired to become a professional football player and play for the National Football League (NFL). The Dallas Cowboys football team was his favorite team until he converted to a “Redskins AKA Washington Football team” fan in his young adult years. While attending Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf, Md., Andre played defensive end on both the JV and Varsity football teams until he was badly injured. After his injury kept him from pursuing his NFL dream, Andre lost interest in school and turned his focus on following his father’s footsteps to own his own trucking business. Andre faced many challenges throughout his life. Although those challenges oftentimes would discourage him, he was determined to get his GED since he dropped out of high school during his senior year. Obtaining his GED was one of Andre’s happiest moments in life next to the birth of his first son, Lloyd. Andre enjoyed music and loved to dance. Parliament Funkadelic was his favorite group and every time he heard his favorite song “One Nation Under A Groove,” Andre would immediately begin to dance. He also enjoyed listening to “Grown-School Go-Go and R&B,” as he would call it. Pop-locking and beating his feet never went out of style in Andre’s eyes. Andre loved his nieces and nephews deeply to the point that he demanded Katrina let him take and raise her oldest son, Kevin and daughter, Patricia. Because she was a single parent, Andre was determined to provide her children with the life he felt they deserved. Andre was determined to turn his life around by frequently attending church. In May 1997 Andre met the love of his life, Leonor Sevilla, in Langley Park, Maryland. Their first date was at Kings Dominion. Andre and Leo married April 9, 1999 and had two children, son, Andre, Jr., and daughter, Leomari. Although Leonor spoke broken English and Andre no Spanish, they understood each other very well. It was after Mari’s birth that Andre decided to rededicate his life to Christ and get baptized again. Also, Andre achieved what he felt was his highest accomplishment…purchasing his own dump truck and becoming self-employed, like his father. Although Andre and Leo didn’t go out often, when they did, you could find them at Six Flags, their favorite family outing. Andre and Leo’s last date night together, after 20 years of marriage, was on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2020, at Outback Steakhouse. Andre loved his siblings but had a very special bond with Denise and Katrina. He felt Katrina understood him the most and would frequently take Mari to Katrina’s house to get her hair done. On Saturday, February 20, two days before Andre passed, he spoke to both Denise and Katrina. His last words to them before ending the call, which are the same words he always said before the call ends were, “I love you stink, and I love you, Boo Boo!” Preceded in death on July 27, 2020, wife, Leonor A. Kirksey. Andre is survived by his children, Lloyd Dawson, Alfonso Aviles (fiancé’ Sarah), Jessica Aviles (fiancé’ Jsemal), Tony Sevilla, Andre Kirksey, Jr. and Leomari Kirksey; father, Tommie Kirksey and mother, Patricia Body; siblings, Dan Allen (Alda), Denise Kirksey Weathers (David), Katrina Kirksey, Tabatha Kirksey, and Michelle Ward; Grandchildren, Jessenia, Carlito, Aliyana, Carmelo, and Mariah; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and close friends.

Andre Michael Kirksey

November 14, 1965 - February 22, 2021