Deacon Hugh Leroy Allen Jr. celebrated his 90th birthday last week at Brielle’s Bistro in Midwest City, enjoying live music, good food and plenty of fellowship.
Many members of his extensive family that include eight children, 11 grandchildren, four greatgrandchildren and his single great, great grandchild, were present, along with his First Baptist Church family.
As part of the birthday celebration, Ray Johnson of Langston presented Deacon Allen with an official certificate of honor from Langston’s mayor, recognizing all he has done during his lifetime.
Among the other items presented to Deacon Allen was one particularly special gift from his church. The Guthrie First Baptist Church donated a grand total of $1,200 to the Joyce Allen Memorial Foundation, named for his daughter, who passed away earlier this year.
Born Aug. 17, 1932, Deacon Allen had served in the Air Force for 20 years, was a part-time bartender for 25 years, and worked at Kerr-McGee for three years, National Standard for 27 years and also at Walmart for 19 years.
Some things not everyone might know about Deacon Allen are that he was capable of doing a walking handstand; he often visits those will illnesses and the shut-ins; and that his favorite scripture is Psalm 23.
He enjoys fishing, hunting, pool, gardening and boating, and has played many sports over the years, including volleyball. Allen is also known by his nicknames “Junior” and “Lefty” and by a new name to accommodate a particular passion of his, “Peach Cobbler.”
His daughter, Joyce, a highly praised Guthrie school teacher, was 66 when she passed on Jan. 16 from complications with lung cancer. She had always taught at Guthrie High School, registering the longest tenure in Guthrie schools. The 2021-2022 school year would have been her 43rd and final year of teaching before retirement, but her final semester was cut short much too quickly.
Ally Black-Redwine, Joyce Allen’s younger sister and Deacon Allen’s other daughter, organized the Joyce Allen Memorial Foundation with other students from the Guthrie High School Class of 1983 to honor her memory.
If you would like to contribute to the foundation for Joyce Allen, please contact: Ally Black-Redwine at allyredwine5280@gmail. com or call 303-522-1685.
Deacon Allen and Ray Johnson
First Baptist Church Members