Anita Carnathan Allen

All the rewards of Heaven showered Anita Carnathan Allen with welcome, as she peacefully passed away in the early morning hours of February 13, 2024. Daughters, Leslie Anne Allen and Leigh Allen Howland, were by her side, reminding her how thankful we are that God blessed us with her as our Mom.

Anita was born on March 29, 1944, in Meridian, Mississippi, the first daughter of James Harlan and Esta Lee Carnathan. Growing up in the Birmingham area, Anita and her younger sisters, Judy and Lynne, frequently performed in local talent shows as “The Carnathan Sisters.” In 1957, they won first place in a month-long talent competition hosted by Cliff Holman (“Cousin Cliff”) and a local television station, performing a song-and-dance act to “Dance with Me, Henry.” Their prize was a Shetland pony they named “Henry.” Upon realizing she was afraid of less-than-four-feet-tall Henry, Anita in her early teen years closed the curtain on her performing career.

Anita graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1961 and then attended the University of Alabama, where she was a member of the Alabama Beta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi sorority, the fraternity sweetheart for the Kappa Alpha Order known as the KA Rose, and a Corolla Favorite. After graduating from the University in 1965, she married her college sweetheart, Douglas M. Allen. She taught business classes to high school seniors at Shades Valley High School while Doug attended dental school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The couple then moved to Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), North Carolina, where Doug was a Captain in the U.S. Army, and they welcomed their first daughter, Leslie, while there.

After returning to Birmingham in 1971, Doug and Anita raised their two daughters in Hoover. Anita supported her husband’s successful dental practice in Alabaster for almost 25 years, acting as his office manager when needed, and she gave her undivided attention and love to her children, Leslie and Leigh. After the girls were grown, Anita went on to become a successful realtor for more than 20 years, retiring at the end of 2019 from RE/MAX Southern Homes (Vestavia office). She received many awards and accolades during her career in real estate, but the one that made her most proud was the Spirit Award voted on by her coworkers, which she won three times.

Anita was universally adored by all who knew her, and she equally reciprocated that love for her friends and colleagues. She enjoyed spending time with her sister, Judy, and her many friend groups – high school friends; sorority sisters; wives of her husband’s dentist friends; mothers of her girls’ friends from growing up; and coworkers at RE/MAX. After her retirement and even as she grieved her late husband Doug, Anita looked forward to planning social activities with friends. With her busy calendar, she often said, “There just aren’t enough days in the week for me to plan lunch with everyone I want to spend time with.” Her friendships truly energized and sustained her.

Anita is survived by her daughters Leslie Allen (spouse Elizabeth Richardson) of Homewood and Leigh Allen Howland of Helena; grandchildren Morgan Taylor Howland, Sutton Douglas Howland, and Carnathan ("Nate") Michael Allen-Richardson; sister Judy (Carnathan) Sansom (husband James “Bunny” - deceased) of Hoover, and several nieces and nephews, as well as other loved ones. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 56 years, Douglas M. Allen; Parents, James Harlan and Esta Lee (Barnett) Carnathan of Hoover; and youngest sister, Melinda “Lynne” (Carnathan) Bowron (husband James Shelby, Jr.) of Atlanta, GA.

Anita loved her family fiercely and selflessly. She gladly put aside her own wants to be sure her girls had everything they needed. She and her girls grieved life without Doug after he died in 2021. But Anita remained a fun, funny, and loyal friend, constantly described as “a shining light,” “a bright spot in the world,” and “full of joy.” Of the many people she loved, Anita adored her grandchildren most, and if you spent any time at all with her, you knew that they were her greatest source of pride and happiness.

Anita bravely fought several illnesses and injuries in the last years of her life – from breast cancer, to radiation-induced liver disease, to a broken pelvic bone, to finally leukemia. Through it all, she kept smiling, and she remained strong, resilient, joyful, hopeful, and grateful for all the blessings God continued to provide. With an intense will to live and a tough, tenacious spirit (some might call stubbornness) that surprised even doctors and hospice staff, her motto in her final months was “Don’t Count Me Out.” Her girls never did, and they had the privilege of caring for Anita with unwavering devotion until she passed. In a family where “I love you”s were always abundant, her girls told her over and over of how loved she was until her last breath. We thank God for that special time with our Mom, as well as for a lifetime of her love for us.

There will be a visitation on Saturday, March 9th from 12-2 pm at John Ridout’s Elmwood Chapel (800 Dennison Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211), followed at 2pm by a memorial service at the same location officiated by Doug's nephew, Dr. Todd Harrington, Lead Pastor of Haven Field Community Church. Anita will be buried at Elmwood Cemetery, alongside Doug, her parents, and her youngest sister.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate your donations to one of these organizations that were special to Anita: Haven Field Community Church at https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/138187; United Ability (improving the lives of people with disabilities, including children through the Hand in Hand Early Intervention and Early Learning Programs) at https://www.unitedability.org/give/; or Studio by the Tracks (supporting adult and youth artists on the autism spectrum) at https://studiobythetracks.networkforgood.com/projects/64961-general-giving. Alternatively, please donate to the charity of your choice in Anita’s memory.

Anita’s girls give special thanks to ProHealth Hospice, most especially Nurse Susan Brooks, Chaplain Reverend Joshua U. Johnson, and Care Aide Jackie Barber, for the compassionate support they provided to Anita and her family. Additionally, we are forever grateful for the exceptional care and endless love from caregivers, Janetta Moore and True Love Home Care owner, Miyesha Hatcher.