James Alvin Allen Jr.

James (Jimmy) Allen was born on November 24, 1943, in Pensacola, Florida to James Allen Sr. and Lamar Allen and was the oldest of their three children. Jimmy was an avid reader throughout his life, and as a child he spent a lot of time at Alice S. Williams Library which was next door to his childhood home.
He received his education in the Escambia County School System and graduated in 1961 from Booker T. Washington High School. After high school, he matriculated at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University where he majored in Education, graduating in April 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He began his career as an elementary school teacher and taught at John A.Gibson Elementary School before transferring to Hallmark Elementary School, where he remained for 20 years. During his years as an elementary school teacher, he taught kindergarten, 3rd and 4th grades. During those years at Hallmark, he was the only male teacher. He was highly respected by his principal, fellow teachers and parents. Jimmy also worked many part time jobs in order to supplement his teacher income. He tutored, taught Adult Basic Education classes at night, sold life insurance and worked in retail stores, all while making time to study and meet the requirements to obtain his Masters degree.
He earned his Master of Science degree in Guidance and Counseling from Troy State University in June 1976. In 1984, he became the elementary Guidance Counselor at Hallmark and Allie Yniestra Elementary schools where he would work Monday and Wednesday at one school and Tuesday and Thursday at the other one, alternating on Fridays. In1988, Mr. Sherman Robinson, principal of Booker T. Washington High School, hired him to become a Guidance Counselor at his high school alma mater, where he remained until he retired in 1993.
On April 30, 1983, Jimmy married Eartha Simpkins at the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. On June 10th of that same year, he also joined the church where he remained a faithful member. His family has always been his highest priority. He was a devoted and proud husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He loved all kinds of music and enjoyed eating good food.
Jimmy leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Eartha Allen; children Trebrena (Jerome) Porter, Telisa Pitts, Marcus Allen and Matthew Allen; grandchildren Gerrard Graham, Mareek Pitts, Chakori Pitts, Yakora Pitts and Jaylen Porter; great grandchildren Ny'aire Pitts and Emmanuel Hernandez; and siblings Eddie Allen and Deloris McCauley.
He will be greatly missed.