Barbara A. Allen

Barbara Ann Matthews Allen was born on November 4, 1951 in Vicksburg, Mississippi to the late James W. Matthews and Ora Lee Matthews (née Green).  Barbara was the fourth eldest of seven children. 

She accepted Christ at an early age & became a member of the Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church.  She graduated from Temple High School in Vicksburg, MS and went on to earn a BS in Nursing from Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, MS in 1975. 

Barbara married Willie Allen on January 8, 1974 in Vicksburg, MS.  From this union, two children were born, Candice and Calvin.  Barbara and her husband moved from Mississippi to Missouri and settled in Ohio.  They divorced in August of 1984, and she continued to live in Ohio until her passing.        

Barbara, a very classy lady; was comical as all get out! She enjoyed listening to music, walking, taking trips down memory lane with her family, watching westerns and especially enjoyed spending time with her children.  She was hardworking as it was demonstrated with her 30+years with the Montgomery County Job Center where she retired in November of 2017.

She volunteered at her local church, Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Sunshine Circle Ministry and with the Links of Dayton, OH.

Being far from home, Barbara found a community in Dayton.  Her loving, caring, humorous and thoughtful demeanor was often shown to her brothers, sisters, and extended family through her family newsletters and birthday lists. Oh, what joy it was to receive those thoughtful birthday cards or letters.  Lol. No matter what age, those thoughtful and much appreciated cards were always a wonderful surprise!            

Barbara Allen passed away on October 12, 2023 at 4:15am.  She was preceded in death by her parents: James W. Matthews and Ora Lee Hooper; her bonus father, Joe Hooper; her siblings: Preston Green (Betty), Betty James (Roosevelt), James Matthews, Sr. (Revoydia) and several nephews and nieces.         

She leaves to cherish her memories her children Candice Allen and Calvin Allen (Morgan) of Cincinnati, OH, her ex-husband, Will Allen, her siblings Helen O’Neal of Calumet City, IL, Joe Hooper, Jr. (Sandra Faye) of Glenwood, IL, and Linda Majors

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