Mrs. Johnnie Lawler Allen 90, of Purvis, MS died on April 11, 2015, at Lamar Health and Rehab with family at her side. Born on September 6, 1924, she was the seventh of nine children born to Roy Thomas and Emma Mae Lawler in the Talowah Community. Mrs. Allen was a graduate of Purvis High School. She was a nurse’s aide at Forrest General Hospital and was well known for the loving way she doted on the babies in the nursery where she worked. She was also an accomplished seamstress both privately and at Movie Star.
Mrs. Allen found pleasure in her labors and helping others. She loved quilting, cooking, and spending time with her loving family with which these activities were most often intermingled. She was a farmer who, on any given morning, often before daybreak, could be found caring for animals or working in the garden. Her selfless distribution of the fruits of her diligent labor resulted in quality fellowship with family and friends in which she reveled. Her homemade yeast rolls were second to none.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Narvell Allen, Sr.; her parents; one son, Thomas Anthony Allen; three brothers: Tracy, Jimmy, and Thomas, and five sisters: Arlynne, Lotis, Juanita, Omega, and Bettie Jane.
Mrs. Allen is survived by her beloved son, Narvell Allen, Jr. (Tiny); four grandchildren: Vince Allen(Elizabeth) of McKinney, TX; Jennifer Allen, Amber Allen Barry (Jim)), and Tara Mae Allen, all of Nashville, TN; eight grandchildren, and a large extended family, as well as by the community she leaves behind to celebrate her memory.
Visitation will be on Monday, April 13, 2015, at Forrest Funeral Home, from 5-8pm. A second visitation will be the following Tuesday morning from 9-10am at Corinth Baptist Church of Purvis, MS, with the service to begin at 10am, also at the church. Interment will be at Corinth Cemetery on the church grounds.
Flowers are welcomed by the family, but they also request any memorial donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in honor of Mrs. Allen. Forrest Funeral Home 1258 Richburg Rd. in Hattiesburg is in charge of the arrangements.
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