Myrtle Allen

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 19, 2010

Funeral services for Myrtle Strickland Allen, 89, of Cairo, will be held Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the Cairo First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Henry Bass, Tegler Greer and Barry Giddens officiating.

Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Cairo with Gene Smith, Larry Higdon, Jimmy Douglas, John Higginbotham, Monty Ferrell and Sid Pridgen serving as active pallbearers.

Born May 7, 1920, in Decatur County, Mrs. Allen died on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, at Grady General Hospital in Cairo, Ga.

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Honorary pallbearers will be members of Grady General Hospital Auxiliary, Fellowship Sunday School Class and XYZ of the Cairo First United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Allen was the daughter of the late Alexander Strickland and Gussie Wilder Strickland. She was the salutatorian of her graduating class from Climax High School. She married Francis E. Allen on July 29, 1945. He preceded her in death on Aug. 12, 2008. She was a retired bookkeeper from Southwestern State Hospital in Thomasville. Mrs. Allen was a member of the Cairo Woman’s Club, Grady General Hospital Auxiliary and Neighborhood Chairman for the American Cancer Society.

Mrs. Allen was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. As a member of the Cairo First United Methodist Church, she was formerly active in United Methodist Women and served as Worship Chairman for several years. She was a former Brownie Scout leader and Cub Scout Den Mother.

Mrs. Allen was preceded in death by her husband, Francis Everett Allen; her parents, Alex and Gussie Strickland; and her brothers, Clifton Strickland and Virgil Strickland.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Everett and Karen Allen of Cairo; daughters and sons-in-law, Annette and Charles Giddens of Cairo, and Faye and Mike Dueitt of Monroeville, Ala.; grandchildren and spouses, Lee Allen of Smyrna, Ga., Chad and Jamie Allen of Cairo, Eric and Kendra Giddens of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Barry and Erin Giddens of Macon, Ga., Emily D. and Brian Kincaid of Wetumpka, Ala.; great-grandchildren, Henry Giddens of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Tyson Allen of Cairo, Ga., and Maddux Giddens of Macon, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to one of the following: Cairo First United Methodist Church, Music Dept., 318 S. Broad St., Cairo, GA 39828; Hospice of Southwest Georgia, 818 Gordon Ave., Thomasville, GA 31792; or the charity of your choice.

Clark Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements.