Allen Greene Mask Sr.

Allen Greene Mask, Sr. departed this earthly life on April 22, 2008. He lived a vibrant and joyful life for over 93 years as a husband, father, soldier, teacher, principal, civic leader, and jazz pianist.
Born in Washington, NC on December 22, 1914. Allen attended public schools there where his father, J.W. Mask, Sr. was the principal and his mother, Flora Mask, was teacher. He graduated from St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, NC with a B.S. degree in Science in 1936. Later, he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army in Okinawa, Japan during World War II where he received several medals for distinguished service. At the time when few educators had advanced degrees, Allen was awarded a Master's Degree in Education from New York University in 1953. Much of his life was dedicated to his career as a teacher, principal and administrator in the Richmond County Public Schools, retiring in 1980.
He married Gloria W. Mask in 1952 in a glorious wedding celebration at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville. To this union were born three children: Allen Mask, Jr. MD, (Deirdre) a physician in Raleigh, NC, Jeanne Mask Horton, an administrator with WakeMed Raleigh, and William Kenneth Mask, MD, (Lesley), a physician in Ventura, CA. He has 10 grandchildren, Bryan Batch, MD, (Alton), Kenneth Batch (Kaleah), Sydney Batch (Patrick), Deirdre Mask (Paul), Allen Mask III, Alex Mask, Isaac Horton, Malaki Mask, Kenya Mask, and Joshua Mask. He has one great-grandchild, Alton Williams, Jr; two brothers, J.W. Mask, Jr. and George C. Mask, MD (Barbara); and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by Joseph C. Mask and Edith Mask Breeden.
Allen served on the Bank Board of the State Employees Credit Union, as well as the Board of the Sandhills Community Acton, Inc. McLaurin Vocational Rehab Center and the Richmond County Community Concert Association. A lifetime member of the NAACP, he served as the Membership Chairman of the Richmond County Branch. His devotion to his community was recognized when he received the 1985 Emanuel S. Douglas Service Award, Richmond County Schools Service Award and the Monroe Avenue School Award for dedication to the boys and girls of Richmond County. Allen was also a man of tremendous faith, having been active in both Episcopal and Baptist churches.
He was fondly known as Al Bingo Swift since childhood. Al - his name; Bingo - because as a child he sang the music of Bing Crosby, and Swift - because he was quick in; the kitchen. He was simply the best husband and daddy in the world!
A memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 27, 2008 at Cole Auditorium, (Highway 74, 1042 West Hamlet Avenue, Hamlet, North Carolina 28345. Visitation is 2:30 p.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Faith Academy, P.O. Box 763, Hamlet, North Carolina 28345, c/o of Rev. Legrand.
Nelson Funeral Home of Rockingham is serving the Mask family.