Judith Allen

COLUMBIA - Judith Maness Allen, 79, died on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. She was born in Asheboro, NC on March 16, 1941, the daughter of James Sherman Maness and Zelma Craven Maness. She grew up in Ramseur, NC, in a Christian home nurtured by her parents, grandparents, her brother, Jim, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She enjoyed all aspects of her youth spent in a joyful environment of family, school, church, and community. Judy attended public elementary, junior high, and high school in Ramseur, graduating from Ramseur High School in 1959.

Judy enrolled in Elon College in 1959 where she was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of teaching young children. Judy flourished as a college student participating in all aspects of college life while attaining personal, social, academic, and career goals. She graduated with honors in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education ready to begin her career as an elementary school teacher. Upon graduation she taught in Asheboro, NC, for four years as a primary grade teacher.

Judy married her husband, Harvey Allen, on August 14, 1965. Two years later the couple moved to Chapel Hill, NC, where they both earned advanced degrees in the College of Education at the University of North Carolina. While in Chapel Hill she taught for two years in the Chapel Hill school system.

In August, 1969, they moved to Columbia, SC, where Harvey had accepted a faculty position in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina. On December 13, 1969, Judy became the proud mother of her son, Harvey Addison Allen, Jr. (Andy). Judy relished being a stay-at-home mother providing Andy with an enriching home life. On February 18, 1974, James Cory Allen was born enabling Judy to become a proud mother for a second time. She always expressed that she felt totally fulfilled as a person in her roles as wife and mother. During these years Judy participated in a wide variety of university, community, school, and church activities. Some of her happiest times were serving as a Cub Scout Den Mother for both Andy and Cory and being a school volunteer while the boys were at Forest Lake Elementary School and Dent Middle School. Judy was very active in the University Women’s Club of the University of South Carolina for over forty-five years, becoming President of the USC Women’s Club in 1980-g1. She particularly enjoyed being in the Hobby Group of the USC Women’s Club where she and other members of the Hobby Group would get together twice monthly in members’ houses to have fun, learn new crafts, and make new friends.

Judy returned to teaching at Forest Lake Elementary School when Cory was in middle school and Andy was in high school. She expressed two main reasons for her return to the classroom—the first being her love of teaching young children and the second reason being to earn advance money for college tuition. The wisdom of this decision was evidenced when both Andy and Cory attended and graduated from Duke University. She loved being a Duke parent. During this return to teaching she was honored by membership in the Alpha Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization devoted to fostering professional and personal growth in women educators and excellence in education. Judy especially enjoyed interacting with members in Delta Kappa Gamma because it provided opportunities for professional development and renewal.

Of all her activities outside of the home Judy derived the greatest satisfaction out of being a dedicated member of Shandon United Methodist Church. She enjoyed being an active member of the Shandon Book Club. She was involved in many activities of the United Methodist Women. She served on many committees at Shandon United Methodist Church and various service projects of Shandon Church Circles. She especially treasured her membership in the Ola B. Taylor Circle. She gained the most complete satisfaction serving as a Sunday School Teacher at Shandon United Methodist Church for more than forty years—the last thirty-eight years teaching the four-year-old class.

Judy’s desire to have a daughter was realized when her son, Cory, married Jane Appleyard of Melrose, Massachusetts. Judy experienced the grandest of joys when she became a Grammy. She delighted in her granddaughter, Emily Allen, and her grandson, Max Allen.

Judy is survived by her husband, Harvey, and son, Harvey Addison Allen, Jr., of Columbia; son, James Cory Allen, daughter-in law, Jane Appleyard Allen, granddaughter, Emily Allen, and grandson, Max Allen, of Melrose, MA; sister-in-law, Sue Maness, of Garner, NC; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her grandparents, parents, and brother, James Sherman Maness, Jr.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 30, 2021 at Shandon United Methodist Church, with a private burial in the church columbarium. A reception will follow at the church. There will also be a livestream of the service at https://youtu.be/1RQ-ITV or through Shandon UMC’s YouTube channel. Memorials may be made to Shandon United Methodist Church directed to the Harvey A. and Judith M. Allen Education Fund, Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine Street, Columbia, SC, 29205. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com