John W. Allen

Mr. John W. Allen, affectionately known as “John Wesley”, Uncle Wesley” and “Grand Dad” was born on January 16, 1934 to the late Ida and John Allen in Plant City, Florida. On Sunday, February 16, 2017 (a month after his 83rd birthday), Mr. Allen went home to be with the Lord. At the age of 16, Mr. Allen moved to Connecticut in 1950 with his uncle, who taught him how to drive a tractor at the age of 5. His main objective of moving to Connecticut was to help take care of his mother and his two sisters. In 1955, he married Cherry Kelly Beaver who passed away in 2007. To that union was born two daughters and one son. In June of 1957, he and his family, under the leadership of the late Reverend Dr. David S. Craig, became founding and charter members of the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Allen served faithfully on the Senior Usher Board and on the Trustee Board, where he served as treasurer. He was a resident of New Britain, CT for 60 years; and resided the last 5 years in Hamden/New Haven, CT. Mr. John W. Allen is survived by; two daughters, Mrs. Nancy Ann Allen-Haskell (Clarence), Ms. Theresa Jeannette Kearney, and one son, John David Allen; he is also survived by brother-in-law Mr. James Bentley, seven grandchildren, David, Derrell, Clarence “CJ”, Autumn, Jasmine, Bryan II and Breanna, seven great-grandchildren, Aliyah, Shawn, Elijah, Jeremiah, Kailyn, Massiah, Courtney; his nephew and nieces, who he helped raise, Willie, Joanne, Cheryl and Tracy, nieces, nephews, cousins, God-children, Shari, Harriett, Stephanie, Trevor, and Willie “Jr.”, (Willie proceeded him in death); a host of friends; his dearly beloved “God- Fa” Deacon Charles Crockett, Fred and Brenda, Bill, Betty, Bishop and Pastor Body; and Acknowledgment to the memory of his brother, sisters and brother-in-law, Walter Allen, Ida Mae and Norman Ingram, and Bloneva Bentley. He was a Community activist who marched with the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (he introduced his eldest daughter to him); a lifetime member of the NAACP, a Union Steward for Fafnir Ball Bearing Company for over thirty years where he worked as a machinist. At Fafnir’s he had perfect attendance and was never late for work.

John W. Allen

January 16, 1934 - February 16, 2017