Mrs. Tommie Virginia Brown Allen peacefully passed from this life Thursday, Nov. 21, at the age of 79, in Houston. 

She was born Nov. 14, 1945, in Vicksburg, to Mr. James A. Brown Sr. and Sarah Henderson Brown of Edwards, Mississippi. A graduate of Rosa A. Temple High School, she attended Tougaloo College in Tougaloo. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Rosa A. Temple High School was the last officially segregated high school in Vicksburg, existing as such until 1971 when Vicksburg schools were desegregated. She married her high school sweetheart, Larry Van Allen Sr., in June of 1966.

That same year, Tommie began her career as a teacher at Cedars School off US 61-South to a class of 45 students. From there, she moved to Warrenton Elementary School, where she taught third and fifth grade English, reading and spelling. When Vicksburg Intermediate School opened its doors, Mrs. Allen was there. She retired from teaching after a 45-year career in May 2011.

Tommie accepted Christ at a very early age, and often shared stories about her telling others about Him and leading them to church in her teenage years. She loved art, particularly drawing, music (both singing and dancing), cooking and sewing – she sewed a lot of her young children’s clothes by hand in their preschool years. She was a woman of deep faith and loved serving in the church she grew up in. She served on the usher board after retirement at St. Paul M.B. Church until her health prevented her from doing so. She was both devoted to and loved by her family, including her husband of 50 years, her daughter and son, her grandchildren and her church family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James A. and Sarah Henderson Brown; her husband, Larry Van Allen Sr.; and siblings, James Anthony Jr. (Ann) Brown, Mary Ruth (Richard) Prince, Rosalee (Matthew/MC) Wilson, and Ann Marie Brown. 

She is survived by her daughter, Tondra Vane Allen of Houston and her son, Larry Van Allen Jr. of Vicksburg; her grandchildren, Midori Marie Allen and Allan Larry (Al) Allen. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews and former students whom she loved like children, and many wonderful friends.

Funeral services for Tommie Virginia Brown Allen are to be held on Saturday Nov. 30, at 11 a.m. in the St. Paul M. B. Church, 437 Tiffentown Rd. Interment shall follow in the Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of W. H. Jefferson Funeral Home. Visitation will be held in the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m.