Mr. Eugene Allen, 72
Services for Mr. Eugene Allen, 72, who died Feb. 4 at Memorial Health Hospital in Savannah, were held Feb. 9 at Disciples of Christ Church with Apostle Cortez Eady officiating. Pastor Ronnie Nichols gave the prayer of comfort, Pastor Calvin Wells read from the old testament, Minister Eric Price read from the new testament, reflections were given by family and friends and Mayor Bayne Stone gave a tribute. Music was provided by Disciples of Christ Praise Team.
Mr. Allen was born July 10, 1947, to the late Dr. Willie E. King and Catherine Allen in Jeff Davis County. He graduated from Hazlehurst High School and was senior deacon at Disciples of Christ Church, receiving Christian Ministry license to preach in 2017. He was employed at American Steel Doors, Glennville Lingerie Hazlehurst Division, Bank of Hazlehurst, City of Hazlehurst and Jeff Davis County Schools. He was the first African-American City of Hazlehurst Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Allen was a member of Hazlehurst Men Civic and Social Club and loved playing checkers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, Moses Allen, Ethel Thomas, Esker King and Eula Bennett; great-grandparents George and Margaret Kennedy; uncles, Marshal (Eula) Pryor, the Rev. Enoch (Carrie Mae) Allen, Charles Thomas and Eugene Allen; aunts Mozell Walker, Barbara Anderson Allen, Sarah Clogging and Lela Mae Brenim; sister Joyce Brown; sister-in-law Mary Alice Jones; brothers-in-law George Moore, Willie E. Wright and Clyde Beauchamp; special brother/cousin John Allen; and special sister/cousin Christine Allen McCoy.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Jewell Allen; son Zaret (Sarah) Allen of Hazlehurst; daughter Destiny (Jeffery) Allen of Hazlehurst; brothers Leotis (Marie) Bloodworth of Savannah, Charles Anthony Brown of Seattle, Wash., David Bonner of Detroit, Mich., and special brother/cousin Larry (Helen) Allen of Hazlehurst; sisters Vernester Beauchamp and Diane King McDonald, both of Detroit, Mich., and special sisters/cousins Alice Allen of Buffalo, N.Y., Rosie (Charles) Jackson of Lithonia, Odessa Clark and Sherrie (Clayton) Horne of Hazlehurst; grandchildren Vanessa Guy of Middletown, Ohio, Andrew Allen and Adrien Allen, both of Hazlehurst; great-grandchild Za’Viere Gearheart of Middletown, Ohio; uncle Moses (Mildred) All of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; brothers-in-law Wallace Jones of Atlanta, Lee Wright of Dublin, Walter (Shirley) Wright Jr. and Jerome (Aretha) Wright of Hazlehurst, Joe (Shirley) Wright of San Antonio, Texas, and James Wright of Atlanta; sisters-in-law Vickie Wright of Valdosta, Betty Moore and Josie Williams of Hazlehurst; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Honorary pallbearers were Disciples of Christ Men’s Department, Fellow Checker Alumni, Classes of 1964, 1965 and 1966, Hazlehurst Men Civic and Social Club, City of Hazlehurst mayor, city council and staff (past and present).
Active pallbearers were Jonathan Wright, Michael Wright, Calvin Wells, Stanley McCoy, Byron Allen and Dwight Moore.
Flower bearers were nieces and cousins.
King Brothers Funeral Home was in charge.
