Herman Alexander Allen Sr.

Herman Allen Sr. grew up in Farmville, Virgina where he claimed he was a farm boy. Born in Prince Edward County, Virginia to Margret Fowlkes and Sammie Allen on March 13, 1936. All of his 12 siblings preceded him in death. The last of the Allen Legacy, Herman has departed earth to join family members in heaven.

Hard work is what was preached to his kids. He would tell us that he worked in the fields before he was toilet trained. Stated that the school bus stopped near apple trees so that they could pick apples before the bus arrived. He stated, at lunch that he would come home from school to milk the cows and plow the fields. During the start of each school year, he said that he was a class clown for a season, until his mother found out. There were you telephones during that time but somehow the word got to his mother that he was not being respectful at school. She would shortly teach him some respect and the importance of education. He said one day she showed up at school with a stick (it looking like a 2x4) to show him the importance of behaving in school. He learned the lesson so well that he skipped a grade. Thanks Grandma Harris for that correction you provided. That correction she impacted on him helped him understand the importance of education. Later during his as a child, Herman was a plaintiff in the Brown vs the Board of Education. Herman and Martha (his wife) met President Obama during the anniversary of that Trial. My mother still has not washed her hands since shaking hands with the president. After leaving home and serving in the Army, he met the love of his life in Atlantic City. Atlantic City was the place where young people would go to work for the summer when they home. They met one summer and got married the next summer. They began their family
and life in Baltimore, Maryland, and spent more than 60 years together. Herman worked for the federal government at Social Security until his retirement. During retirement, he continued in his quest to play tennis and be the next Arthur Ash. As he slowed down on the tennis courts, he began to learn and dominate the game of Scrabble. His key phases he stated during scrabble games were, “wait a minute”, “I’m taking my fingers off the board, but I am not done with my move yet,” or “I am not going to challenge your word, but I don’t think it’s a word.”

He is survived by his wife Martha Lu Royster Allen, his three sons— Herman (Sherrie) Allen, Alvin (Gloria) Allen, and Kenneth (Jennifer) Allen, his eight grandchildren, Justin, Ashley, Shawn, Amanda, Daniel, Kendra, Kenneth, and Jaxon, his 5.5 great-grandchildren Devon, Justin, Janae, Illana, Novaliegh, and a princess to be named, and a grand host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and family friends.

Education was very important to him, but educating someone about Jesus was his sole priority. After meeting a new person, Mr. Allen would ask, where do you attend church, and he would ask do you know the Lord? We did not ask if we were going to Church on Sunday. You just knew it. My father was not perfect; he did have a drug problem. He drug us to Church and Sunday School every Sunday. My father did not just attend church, but he lived it. Serving as a deacon, choir member, Sunday school teacher, and Bible study leader at various churches he attended. He would say that your position in the Church is not getting you into heaven. Your position with Jesus Christ is what is the most important decision in your life. And so, he would ask you, will I be seeing you soon?

Repast will be Napa at Kingsley

3:30 pm -6pm

1310 Broadcloth St Ste 101, Fort Mill, SC 29715

Local Hotel for accommodations:

Holiday Inn Express

1655 Carolina Place, Fort Mill 29708

Herman Jr & Sherrie (booked Holiday Inn)

803-802-0300