Mary C. Allen

Mary Catherine Allen, youngest of the eight children born of the union of Thomas Henry and Mary Neuman Allen, was born on April 9, 1906 in McDaniel, Talbot County, Maryland. As Mary made her entrance onto life’s stage, few, if any, could have foretold the future and positive influence that this grand and exceptional lady would exert on her family, her students, friends, colleagues and associates in various civic, community, social, church and professional environments; many of whom would lavish her with deserving and abundant praise, respect and love. Her long and fruitful life ended on April 18, 2012, just nine days after celebrating her 106th birthday surrounded by loving and devoted family members. Her unique quality of life should not be measured as much in it’s length as in the depth of a love and faith in God which lifted and sustained her throughout a lifetime of helping and serving others. She has been heard to say, “Serving and helping others is a natural for me – just like breathing.” Mary began her formal education in a one-room school, later attended the Princess Anne Academy, Hampton Institute and, then, Morgan State College from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree. She did post-graduate work at Columbia University which awarded her the Master of Arts Degree in 1953. Her career as an educator in Maryland public schools spanned nearly forty years, thirty of which were spent at the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Baltimore City. Throughout her teaching career, on the Eastern Shore, in Western Maryland and in Baltimore, she was recognized and praised by her colleagues and supervisors as the consummate teacher with “superior” and “outstanding” ratings. At Dunbar, she taught Home Economics with a special interest in the areas of Food and Nutrition and Culinary Arts. In her retirement, “Mary C” remained a devoted member of the Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church where she was active in many local and district level programs and affairs of the Church. She also continued to share her gifts and talents with various civic causes and organizations, among them, the YMCA, the Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc, the N.M. Carroll Home for the Aged, the United Negro college Fund, the Red Cross, the Greater Baltimore Urban League Guild, the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the Herbert Frisby Historical Society. Mary Catherine Allen was preceded in death by all of her siblings: Hattie, Thomas, Royal, Alexander, James, Samuel and John; but she leaves to celebrate her life and honor her memory: eleven nieces and nephews; godsons, Donald and David; and generations of other relatives, friends and associates whose lives shall be forever enriched by their association with this “Phenomenal woman.”

Tributes

Mary C. Allen

April 9, 1906 - April 18, 2012