Grace Grace Wilson Allen age 88 passed away June 29, 2012. Born June 11, 1924, she was the daughter of John Wesley Wilson and Clara Knight Wilson. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 58 years, James Clyde Allen, Sr. and her brothers, Lloyd and Roy Wilson, and her sister. Margaret Jean Wilson. Mrs. Allen was born in Pelzer, SC and graduated from Ellen Woodside High School where she played on the basketball team and coached by her future husband. After high school she was employed by Myers Arnold in Greenville, SC as a switchboard operator. She worked there until her marriage when she became a housewife and mother. In 1955 the family moved to Charlotte, NC, where she and her husband settled. In the early 1960’s, Mrs. Allen began working for Atlantic Life Insurance and moved to Reserve Life where she quickly became a top agent winning many trips to the home office in Dallas as well as Hawaii, San Francisco and other places around the US and Canada. One of her fondest memories was meeting and dining with Mickey Mantle who was a part of the management team of Reserve Life after his retirement from baseball. By the l970”s she had her husband talked into leaving his job, studying for the insurance exam and finally selling insurance with her. They enjoyed many years of working together all over Charlotte and the surrounding area. They were top sales people of the Atlantic States Region for many years and became known as the Allen Duo. Over the years Mrs. Allen was a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church, Greenland Avenue Baptist Church, and Calvary Baptist Church. She was an avid choir member and loved to sing and play the piano all her life. She and her husband were youth leaders at Greenland Avenue Baptist and Mrs. Allen taught Sunday School at Calvary Baptist. She was a member of the FISH group at Calvary and helped to organize a trio in her choir in which she sang alto. She was a member of the Eastern Star, MIZPAH CHAPTER #16. During her membership she served as Ruth and Esther. She also loved gardening and playing the piano. She is survived by her daughters, Gale Campbell (David) of Clover, SC, Toni Funderburk, sons Jimmy (Cindy) of Mansfield, TX., Craig of Lake Wylie, Keith (Karen), grandchildren, Melissa McAfee (Dan) of Arlington, TX., Ashley Dragon (Michael) of Mandeville, LA., Wesley Stanton of Clover, SC, Chris Allen of Burleson, TX., Cliff Allen, Steven Funderburk, Lindsey Funderburk, great grandchildren, Noah and Abigale McAfee, Davis, Anne Gracen and Lilla Dragon, brothers, John, Tommy, Bobby, and Joe Wilson of Greenville, SC. Funeral services will be at 11:00AM Tuesday in the chapel of Forest Lawn West Funeral Home, Dr. John (Chip) Sloan officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in Forest Lawn West Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, make memorials to the American Kidney Foundation. Offer condolences though www.forestlawnwest.com
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