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On March 6, a birthday celebration was held
for Clara Louise Wilson Allen at Longwood University. The occasion marked the
end of one century for a woman who has lived in the Cumberland/Prince Edward
Community her entire life.
Clara was born on March 11, 1910, in Cumberland County to Charles
and Mattie Coy and was named for her aunt Clara who served many years as
librarian at Tuskegee University. During the program, emcees emphasized that
Clara was full of wisdom, life, love, imagination, personality, wit, laughter,
and fun. They noted that Clara plans to be around a lot longer.
The party was both a celebration and a history lesson. The 225
guests included seven clergy members, four children, 18 grandchildren, 22
great-grandchildren, 17 great-great- grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews
and cousins, and numerous close friends and church members. Guests traveled from
throughout the state of Virginia and the states of California, Connecticut,
Del-ware, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas. Citations were sent from the
Town of Farmville, state officials, friends and President Barak Obama.
Clara wore a black dress with a red brocade jacket and red hat. She
topped her outfit with a stunning butterfly pin and a scarf. She drove her
scooter chair gracefully into the banquet room to greet her guests; many
commented on how stunning she looked.
The program included prayer, dinner, and an introduction of Clara
Allen through telling about her life. It also included a period for reflections
from guests and family members. Information shared at the party About Mrs. Allen
included: she is the last survivor of 13 children and she had one sister who
lived to be 101 years old. She has a living niece who is 95 years old.
Mrs. Allen attended school in Cumberland County. She married Frank
Allen, and from this union six children were born. She raised one niece and one
nephew, Walter and Barbara, and helped to raise many other children — both in
her family and others.
Mrs. Allen, who has 28 grandchildren, 35 great grand-children, and
41 great-great-grandchildren, absolutely loves children and they love her.
Mrs. Allen worked at Longwood House as a specialty cook and dining
assistant and at Prince Edward County Schools as head cook. When she went to
work in the fall after she had turned 70, she was told that she couldn’t work
because she was too old. That didn’t stop her. She found an agency called Green
Thumb and became a caseworker for senior citizens and worked for them for
several years longer. Mrs. Allen earned her GED at age 74. She has been
nominated to be on the Willard Scott birthday recognition on March 10.
During her lifetime Mrs. Allen saw transportation change from bull carts
to gas driven cars and now to electric cars. She witnessed the vestiges of
slavery, the birth of women’s suffrage, the impact of the Civil Rights Movement,
and the election of the first black president in the United States.
During the past century Mrs. Allen has seen communication progress
from telegraph to tele-phone to cell phone and from writing everything by hand
to using fax machines, emails and text messaging. Mrs. Allen remembers dances
from “Pulling Caro” to the Charleston to the jerk; and now from the jerk to what
young people call the stanky leg. She remembers when a mouse was a critter, not
a computer part and when the word “ludicrous” meant outrageous instead of
referring to the name of a rapper. She remembers the days when medical care was
more about going in the field to get roots and herbs for medicinal purposes than
going to the doctor. Her lifetime spans the days of Ma Perkins and Hill-top
House on the radio to “In the Heat of the Night,” “Matlock,” and “McGyver” on
television.
Mrs. Allen has always been committed to going to church, and when
she can’t make it, she is anxious to look at the Rev. Lee Watkins from
Cornerstone on video, listen to Dr. Lance Watson on CD, and Dr. Charles Stanley
on television. She also looks forward to fellowship with Ms. Herndon, Ms. Brown,
Ms. Turner and Ms. Baker when they make their missionary visits on Wednesdays.
While Mrs. Allen used to sing in the choir and usher at Race Street
and Cornerstone, she now sings to little ones and rides them in her scooter
chair. During the day she used to bake and cook; now she sneaks in the kitchen
at night when she thinks no one else is awake. She once taught everyone to think
before speaking; now she speaks whatever she wishes whenever she wishes. Always
particular about her hair and clothes, she will never wear a wig or weave or go
out of the house with wrinkles. She insists that her pillowcases are ironed. She
likes to drive her motor scooter to a neighbor’s house to see what’s going on.
Mrs. Allen is a member of Order of Eastern Star, The Farmville
Chapter Martha E. Forrester, and Daughter of Elks. Her interests and hobbies
include sewing, fishing, cooking, and preparing unique spirits.
Her secrets of longevity include faith in God and the love she
shares with family and friends. Her focus is not “I” but what can be done to
help any-one, anytime, anywhere, and in any circumstance.
“She is a phenomenal woman who has a warm heart and the amazing
capacity to love more than any human being I have ever met,” a family
spokesperson said. “Her sound mind, quick tongue, sincere humility, comedian’s
sense of humor, and excitement about life is exceptional.”
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