Mrs. Anice Little Allen

Mrs. H. L. Allen Sr. Dies After Brief Illness
Mrs. Homer L. Allen Sr., 78, one of Jackson's most widely beloved women, died early Monday morning at Sylvan Grove Hospital following a critical illness of a few days. She had been in declining health for several months and only recently suffered a fall which probably hastened the end. She had been a patient in the hospital, however, for only a few days.
The former Miss Anice Little, she was born in Monroe County on March 26, 1888, the daughter of Mr. Jeff Davis Little and Mrs. Ollie Floyd Little.
On June 1st, 1910 she was married to Mr. Homer L. Allen Sr. in Monroe County. Soon after their marriage, the Allens moved to Butts County where her husband was a telegraph operator for the Southern Railway System, compiling over 38 years of service before his retirement.
In 1925 Mr. and Mrs. Allen opened Allen's Grocery Store on the north side of the court square which they operated jointly until Mr. Allen tragic death by drowning in the Ocmulgee River below Jackson Dam on March 17, 1948 while fishing during high water.
Mrs. Allen was a devoted and influential member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson. She had the honor of seeing a circle of the Women's Missionary Society named after her as well as a youth program of the church. She was a charter member of the Jackson Business and Professional Women's Club and supported its activities until ill health forced her retirement.
For a long number of years, Mr. and Mrs. Allen were assisted in the operation of their grocery business by their son, Mike Allen, who two years ago in March took over control of the business. It was on January 31, 1948 that the Allens moved into their present location on West Second Street.
Charitable and generous by nature, Mrs. Allen delighted in doing for those less fortunate as well as for her legion of friends. An expert seamstress, she took pleasure in making colorful party aprons and dispensing them to friends as a birthday or anniversary token, or simply from a desire to share with others. Generous to a fault, she was especially philanthropic at the Christmas season when she dispensed well filled baskets of groceries to shut-ins and the needy of the community.
Funeral services for Mrs. Allen were conducted Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock from the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert L. Thompson, pastor, officiating. Interment was in Forsyth City Cemetery alongside her husband, with Haisten Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Surviving Mrs. Allen are one daughter, Mrs. Edna A. Jackson of Jackson; two sons, Homer L. Allen Jr. of Bainbridge and D. Mike Allen of Jackson; four grandchildren; six great grandchildren.
Pallbearers were J. D. (Bud) Pope, John L. Coleman. P. H. Weaver, Maurice Carmichael, Arthur Stodghill Sr., and Otis P. Stephens.

(Jackson Progress-Argus - July 14, 1966)

Submitted by V. S. Harrison