Betty Ann Allen

Betty was born and raised in Ft. Worth, Texas, along with her brother just 13 months her junior. Always active in church and community and family functions, she also grew up close to many of her cousins and extended family. Betty attended and graduated from Polytechnic High School in Ft. Worth. She worked that summer in the office of her dad's construction company, Gilmer Construction. She first attended one year at Arlington State College before transferring to Hardin Simmons Baptist University in Abilene, Texas. There she met her life mate W. Carroll Allen, Jr., and they married August 21, 1953. As Carroll was an ordained minister and intended to follow God's call into pastoring, Betty did accept the role of a Pastor's wife. And there began their journey. Along the way of Carroll being educated, ordained and pastoring Betty gave birth to two daughters, Glenda Kay and Carol Ann and the family adopted and infant son, Michael Warren. After pastoring for several years, Betty's husband made a career change from pastoring in churches to Childcare Administration and they started their Ministry in the Brazoria County Youth Homes in Freeport, Texas. Within a few years, the family was led to this place of service, Texas Baptist Children's Home, here in Round Rock, Texas. The next 4 years is where the family lived and served in this community in this Texas Baptist facility dedicated to the betterment of life for children in central Texas. All of Betty's children live in Central Texas now and felt it fitting to gather here for her Memorial.

The next chapter in her life would take her and Carroll back into a church pastorate for another 4 years before returning to the Ministry of Childcare once again. While serving at Boy's Haven in Beaumont, Texas side by side as Administrator and Social Worker Betty lost her husband, her soulmate in death March 17, 1987. Soon after Betty and her son moved to Midland, Texas where her daughter Glenda and her family lived. As soon as Betty was settled in, her mother came to be in Betty's care and stayed with her for several years until she passed in August 1993.

Once again, Betty would have the opportunity to serve her Lord and her community as Director of the Midland Baptist Crisis Center for the Midland Baptist Association. Overseeing the many programs offered through the Center to give help and relief and training to the residents in need in that community was a large task but necessary for the area. Betty retired from the Crisis Center and the workforce in her 70s. When her health began to fail her daughters moved her to Central Texas where they both resided, to be more involved in her everyday life and wellbeing. She resided independently in this area from 2009 into April of 2021. Betty suffered a stroke at that point and needed care around the clock until her death.

Her daughters made her a young Grandmother but she loved every grandchild born into her family. She had a special relationship with each one of her grandchildren, letting each one be as accepted for their individuality as possible. The oldest of the grandchildren, Jennifer, gave her the name GiGi when she had her first child, the first grandchild, the first great grandchild. She became GiGi for Great Grandmother! And she relished the title! She had a special bond with each new great grandchild and she was special to them as well.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, W. Carroll Allen, Jr.; her father, Jewel Pinkney Gilmer; her mother, Lessie Viola Gilmer; and her brother Charles Gilmer. Surviving family members include daughters, Glenda Shaw and husband Ron, daughter Carol Jacobs and husband Kendall; and her son Mike.

Grandchildren include Jennifer Myers and husband Kevin, Callie Hawthorne and Wayne and Blake McBride, Jeremy Shaw and wife Tara, Casey Sheppard and husband Kevin, Crys Norsworthy and husband Todd, Ashley Jacobs and fiancé, Michael, Tambrey Burkhead and husband Clint, Tiffany Couch and husband Andrew.

Great-grandchildren Brandon Wright, Kyle Myers and his husband Christian, Kay Sparks, Cypher Myers, Hayden Myers, Leif Pinkstaff, Isabell Hawthorne, Caiden Shaw, Alynn Shaw, Melody Blake, A.J. Blake, Iriel Blake, Kylie Blake, Cale Clark, Alston Norsworthy, Tyler Norsworthy, Brendalyn Norsworthy, Zane Norsworthy, Cody Burkhead, Braeden Burkhead, Wyatt Burkhead, Tucker Burkhead, Holt Burkhead, Elli Burkhead, and Randi Burkhead.

Great-great grandchildren Jaxson Sparks, AveryAnn Sparks and Ryder Burkhead.

The family wishes to acknowledge the following as important car givers in Betty’s latter years: Dr. Benjamin Smith M.D., personal physician, Baylor Scott & White hospital in Round Rock and their tireless staff dedicated to the sick, New Hope Manor Assisted Living facility and each staff member therein that touched Betty’s life, and Joy of Life Hospice care and staff.

Betty had a deep love and compassion with dogs as pets her whole life. Donations to your favorite animal shelter or rescue center in her name would be greatly appreciated.