Margie Allen

Margie Elaine Wimberley Allen, 91, formerly of Paris, TN, departed this life April 10, 2014, surrounded by her family.  Margie was known to family and friends as “Ding Dong Granny”, a nickname given to her by a granddaughter, Brandi Brewer Feichtinger, who associated the tolling of the Tower’s Bell at Freed Hardeman University, where Margie served for many years as a dorm mother, with her Granny.

Margie was born in Henry County on March 15, 1923, to Bomar Collins Wimberley and Bertha Powell Wimberley.  She was married to Stanley David Allen, Sr., September 11, 1937,  and he preceded in death November 19, 1972.  They had four children David (Connie) Allen Jr., of Gurley, AL,  Sharon (Don) Walker of Fayetteville, TN,  and Jan (Rick) Brewer of Hohenwald, TN, and Mike Allen who preceded in death, and his wife Carolyn Allen of Hazel Green, AL.    Margie is survived by 15 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.  She had 4 brothers,  Cortez Wimberley, Raymond Wimberley and David Vickery, who preceded her in death and Danny (Mary Beth) Wimberley who lives in Buchanan, TN.

Margie attended schools in Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee and Florida. When she  married in 1937, at the age of 14, she gave up school to become a housewife. While a dorm mother at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, TN, she completed the GED Test and received a Certificate of High School Equivalency, of which she was very proud.  Beginning a life of responsibility at such a young age, she surely earned a PhD in Life.  Especially with her children, she was a teacher of the rarest kind, sharing her learning through love.

In addition to being a wife and mother, Margie worked a number of jobs outside the home to help support her family.  As an employee at Holley Carburetor and The Mitchum Company in Paris, TN, she took great pride in her work and made friends for a lifetime.  When Stanley’s health required a job change in 1959, the two of them operated Allen’s Grocery on HWY 69.  They moved to Huntsville, AL, in 1968, to begin a family venture in the fast food business with Henry’s Drive In Restaurants, Inc.

Following Stanley’s death in 1972, Margie moved to Henderson, TN to serve as a dorm mother at Freed Hardeman University.  Her tenure there lasted for over 14 years, and she was endeared as “Mom Allen” to thousands of students during their college years away from home.  She later returned to Huntsville, AL and worked for Delcor Corporation, securing assistance for the elderly, and in 1983, she was named Resident Manager of MayFair Towers, an independent residential facility owned and operated by MayFair Church of Christ.  After serving in this position for several years, she continued to make her home among her friends at Mayfair Towers until her health declined in 2010.  Since that time, she has been lovingly cared for by family members and skilled caregivers.

Margie loved everyone, and her priorities were family and friends, the Lord Jesus Christ, and her country.  She lived life with energy and passion, and she will be missed by those who loved her and were loved by her.

Visitation for Margie will be Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 4:00-8:00 p.m.  and after 12 pm Sunday at Ridgeway Funeral Home, with the funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 13, in LeDon Chapel of Ridgeway Funeral Home with members of her family and Charlie T. Cate conducting the service.  Margie’s seven grandsons will serve as pall bearers, and burial will follow at Poplar Grove Cemetery in Springville, TN

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