John Presley Allison

Born July 28, 1948, in Stevenson, Alabama, he was the only child of Lois Pauline Henson Allison and William Edgar Allison, both of whom preceded him in death. He is survived by his two daughters, Evvie Allison of New York City and Frances Allison of Birmingham, Alabama.

A writer and poet, John’s work appeared in Poetry and Esquire magazines, as well as other prestigious journals, and in Working the Dirt: An Anthology of Southern Poets (2003). He received the Academy of American Poets prize and twice received the Hackney Literature Award for poetry. John graduated from Stevenson High School and the University of Alabama, later receiving an MA in English from Hollins College in Virginia (now Hollins University) and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Alabama. A longtime English instructor at the University of Alabama, he was an avid reader known by his students to have a particular passion for Southern literature.

John loved music and art, football (especially Alabama football), baseball, the outdoors, and his daughters. He was a dedicated bird watcher and fisherman who spent countless hours on his beloved Lake Tuscaloosa and the Black Warrior River, always looking forward to landing his first bass of the season.

John’s family and numerous lifelong friends will hold a celebration of life in his memory on April 2, 2022, in Tuscaloosa. Donations in his memory may be made to Black Warrior Riverkeeper, The Sierra Club, or the charity of your choice.