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DREWRYVILLE – Allard A. Allston III “AL” of Drewryville, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at the age of 79.

Born April 21, 1945 in Charleston, South Carolina to the late Allard A. Allston Jr. and Anita L. Wells, Al was raised in Darlington, South Carolina. Driven in part by his parents focus on education and life-long learning, he graduated valedictorian of Mayo High School in 1963 and went on to earn a degree in political science and history from Yale University in 1967 and his JD from Duke University School of Law in 1976.

Al’s early career revolved around addressing issues pertaining to civil rights, community development, and economic empowerment. He served as the Assistant Director of the South Carolina Council on Human Relations which played an integral role in fostering better living and social conditions for African Americans and promoting racial harmony within the state. He also served as the Director of the Foundation for Community Development (FCD) in North Carolina which spearheaded efforts to enhance infrastructure, housing, economic development, and the distribution of wealth in the African-American community. As part of his work with FCD, he cofounded United Durham Incorporated (UDI).

It was while living in Durham, North Carolina that Al met the love of his life, Lynette P. Lewis. The two were married less than a year after initially connecting and moved to Columbia, South Carolina. After working with his father for several years as an independent sales representative for Jostens, Al began practicing law in 1987 as a trial attorney specializing in products liability and became a partner at one of the nation’s largest plaintiffs’ litigation firms, Ness, Motley, Loadholt, Richardson & Poole (NMLR&P) and later Motley Rice LLC.

The year 2000 marked a significant transition for Al when he was initially diagnosed with leukemia, making the decision to retire from a career in which he was deeply passionate and committed to focus on the most important love in his life, his wife and family. He and Lynette made the decision to move to her hometown in Drewryville to live on the family farm originally owned by her grandparents. Trading in the well-tailored suits for ostrich boots, Al embraced the slower pace. He appreciated the serenity of rural life and occasionally enjoyed pushing around dirt on one of his favorite toys, his John Deere tractor. As part of this transition, he also assumed his new position as the assistant and on-call driver for Lynette as she pursued multiple community board leadership opportunities in her home state. Al also became an associate member and served as corporate counsel for the Native American tribe in which his wife was Chief of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia.

Throughout his time in Virginia, Al stayed connected with friends and former colleagues through his avid use of Facebook, providing unfiltered political and social commentary (he was never one to hold back his thoughts or opinions) and often expressing his deep passion and appreciation for history and his love and admiration for his family. Al enjoyed music, especially jazz and blues and never passed up an opportunity to dance with his wife. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and took pride in watching them grow. Al will be remembered for many things; but above all, it is his enduring love and dedication to his family that will be cherished the most.

He is survived by his loving wife, Lynette Allston; sons, Teague Allston and Adam Allston (Sheelagh); grandchildren, Ayden Allston and Chase Allston; sisters, Linda Shaw and Carolyn Wright-Lewis (Edward Lewis); and nieces and nephews, Anil Shaw Manley (David Manley), Amar Shaw, Haydn Wright (Brian Johnson), and Nikki Wright (David Francis).

The family has chosen to have a private memorial service at this time. A celebration of life will be coordinated at a later date in Columbia, South Carolina.

Al was given less than a year to live when originally diagnosed with leukemia. Through the direct care of Dr. Brian Druker and the support of the team at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Al went on to not only survive, but also enjoy everything life has to offer for 24 more years. For this reason, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be directed to the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute c/o Oregon Health & Science University Foundation, 2020 SW 4^th Avenue, Portland, OR 97201, give.ohsufoundation.org.