Allyson Armistead Allred

Allyson Armistead Allred, 49, of Birmingham, AL, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on April 24, 2019 after a miracle-filled 18-year battle with ocular melanoma. Today the battle is won. She is healed.

Allyson will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She also became a vocal advocate for ocular melanoma research. While her rare cancer gave her a platform for raising awareness and crucial research funds, she embraced every opportunity to proclaim her faith and trust in God. Everyone she encountered clearly saw the glory of the Lord shining through her and knew her faith rested in Jesus Christ. She radiated joy and peace throughout the most difficult of circumstances and never let those circumstances stop her from living and enjoying life to the fullest.

Allyson is survived by her beloved family: John, her husband of 26 years, and their children, Lindsey and John David; as well as her father, Bill Armistead; brother, Beau Armistead (Ashley); and several nieces and nephews. She was joyously met in heaven by her mother, Emily Armistead; and grandparents, Paul and Ruth Golson and Cole and Emma Belle Armistead.

Allyson was born in Roanoke, VA, and graduated from Briarwood Christian High School in Birmingham in 1988. She attended Auburn University, receiving a B.S. in Early Childhood Education in 1992 and was a member of Kappa Delta sorority, where she formed many of her most cherished, lifelong friendships.

She was a member of Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church, where she was actively involved in both her longtime life group and the women’s ministry. She also enjoyed community Bible studies, Jazzercise classes, outings with friends, and most of all spending time with her family.

Everywhere she went, people were drawn to Allyson’s genuine, upbeat, hopeful spirit and her faith in Christ. She was blessed with an unusually large network of longtime, close friendships. She was also blessed to have amazing teams of physicians and nurses in Birmingham and Philadelphia, all of whom became trusted friends. Allyson’s family is forever grateful for the way they loved her and labored ceaselessly on her behalf.

There will be a celebration of Allyson’s life on Saturday, April 27, 1 p.m., at Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church, 5080 Cahaba Valley Trace, Birmingham, AL 35242. The service will be followed by a reception for friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Allyson’s brother’s ministry, Sojourn Counseling, P.O. Box 100156, Irondale, AL 35210.