Molly Virginia Allen, MD

Born on March 29, 1952, in Nacogdoches, TX, to Walter Barton Allen, MD, and Frances Virginia Danforth Allen, Molly entered the world immediately brimming with joy and moxie. After graduating third in her class from Nacogdoches High School in 1970, she matriculated to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, where she was a sister of Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated in 1973 with a degree in French.

Following in her beloved father’s footsteps, Molly set her sights on medicine. She attended medical school at the University of Texas at San Antonio, graduating in 1980. She completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was there that she met Eric, her husband of 41 years.

They moved to Wilmington, NC in 1984, where she joined Coastal Carolina Eye Clinic. In an era when women were not encouraged to pursue such high-powered careers, she unapologetically broke glass ceilings, excelled at her job, raised a family, and did it all with a level of selflessness rarely seen in this world. She holds the honor of being the first female surgeon in Wilmington, NC.

This dazzling lady was known for her love of The Beatles, pilates, and the perfect gin and tonic. She effortlessly danced her way through the ups and downs of life, handling every curveball with poise and grace. She was a cathedral of a woman and, for so many of us, she hung the moon.

Molly is preceded in death by her father, mother, and brother, Marvin Danforth Allen, DDS. She is survived by her husband, Eric Dennis Keefe; daughters, Kelly Virginia Keefe and Kathryn Allen Keefe; and brother Barton Cook Allen, DDS (Ann).

A special thank you to Champions Assisted Living at The Davis Community and Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.

A memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 (www.alz.org), or the charity of your choice.