Mother Olanthia Allen

She was raised in White Oak, Texas, with her family eventually moving to and settling in Vernon, Texas. She left home at 19, moving to Hobbs, NM, where she met and married her first husband, Howard Nary, Sr., with whom she had two children, Howard & June and this marriage was dissolved. Later she was introduced to Felix James Hornsby, whom she also married, eventually moving to Dallas, TX with him. To this union, 3 children were born, Barbara, Billy and Shawn.

Her next adventure into matrimony was to Lester T. Allen, whom she met in 1968. Their marriage lasted 43 years. To this union, no children were born.

Olanthia worked off and on for a few years as a maid and/or a waitress, eventually getting hired at Neuhoff Meat Packing Plant in Dallas, working there until the factory closed its doors nine and a half years later. She then found employment with Dallas Independent School District working in the maintenance department retiring from there in 1980. After retirement, she journeyed into her third career choice, cosmetology. At the age of 56, she became a certified licensed cosmetologist graduating at the top of her class, eventually remodeling and opening her own shop in the back of her home. She retired from this career choice ten years later.

Olanthia’s parents raised her up in the COGIC faith. So, she accepted Christ as her Lord & Savior early in life. She found and became a faithful, dedicated member of Lighthouse COGIC in Dallas, under the pastorage of Elder Edward Calloway and then his now successor, Supt. Michael O. Clerkley, Sr., whom she always referred to as her special son. She served on the usher and mothers boards at Lighthouse COGIC, until her life path took her in another direction in 2012, when she moved to Houston, Texas with her daughter, Barbara. Four years later, due to her health and to satisfy her desire to be near all of her family, they both returned to Dallas to live.

On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, Mother Olanthia Hines Allen entered into her eternal home in Glory. She was welcomed by her parents, her husbands, nine siblings, one son, and four grandchildren.

Olanthia leaves to cherish her memory: Three daughters, Beverly June Johnson (Glen), Barbara Hornsby Mosley, Debra Shawn West (Robert, Sr.); one son, Billy Hornsby, Sr. (Chante), and her special daughter/granddaughter, Kendra Thibodeaux; 11 grandchildren, 22 great, and 3 great-great grandchildren, one sister, Lillie Conley who lives in Plano, and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.