Nelda "Jean" Allen

Nelda “Jean” Allen, 63, of South Haven, Michigan died July 18th 2021 peacefully from her long battle with CANCER.  She was at home comforted by her sisters.

Nelda was born in South Haven, Michigan August 6th, 1957 the daughter of the late June Vaughn, J.C Redfield and Rosalie Redfield.  She was the eldest of 5 children, one brother and three sisters.  Nelda graduated from Benton Harbor High School and later earned her Associates Degree from Lake Michigan Community College.

Jean was raised in Benton Harbor, Michigan then lived her adult years in Lansing and Flint, Michigan where she touched many lives.

Jean worked for WIS International in Lansing Michigan for over 20 years.  She loved everyone that were on her crews.  She dedicated her life to WIS and always enjoyed the traveling that came with the job.  She always insisted she was the driver.  She said, “These kids aren’t driving me anywhere”.  There were many days Jean would come home with stories regarding those many van rides she would have with her WIS family.  Jean’s long battle with Cancer took away that joy she had of going to work everyday.  She loved WIS, she even made the majority of her nieces, nephews and bonus children work there.  Hillary, Kimosha and Willard just to name a few.  Jean loved to dance, watch TV, listen to music, laugh, crack jokes, cook, pray and hang with homies.

Jean loved the Lord.  When her health was stable she would attend her Church home in Flint, Michigan, Mt. Sinai Deliverance Church of the Apostolic Faith.

Jean’s most important role in life was mother and grandmother.  Her children and grandchildren were her world.  Jean’s eldest son Anthony was born and shortly after her daughter Jamisha, from the union, she had with Gregory Hobbs.  Jean loved her children more than life itself.  When Anthony and Jamisha became adults, they provided her with who would become the most important people on this planet to her, who she would fight to live for every day.  If you knew her you knew those children were her everyday purpose, she put them before herself daily.  Anthony Sr. blessed her with Anthony Allen Jr., Ta’on Allen, Ta’lynn Allen and Jalen Allen.  Jamisha blessed her with Lamont Keiser, Ariyanna Gardner and Jacques Allen. Jean was also blessed with raising Kimosha Allen, Kalip Allen, Alexis Demps and many more children needed her love.  She raised all of her children alongside Tyrone Triplett who she loved until her dying day.

Jean was preceded in death by her mother’s; June Vaughn and Rosalie Redfield, father; J.C. Redfield, grandmother; Marie Allen, grandfather; Edward Allen Sr., daughter; Jamisha Allen, grandchildren; Jacques Allen, Angel and Jasper Jr., brother; Ozy Vaughn, uncles; Edward Allen Jr., and Don Allen, aunts; Joan Strong and Robbie Allen, her sister/best friend; Tammy Dukes and nephew; Andrew Smith.

Jean is survived by her son; Anthony Allen Sr., daughter; Alexis Demps, children/grandchildren; Lamont Kiser, Anthony Allen Jr., Ariyanna Gardner, Ta’on Allen, Ta’lynn Allen and Jalen Allen,  siblings; April (Kimber) Vaughn, Antoinette Gibson, Michele Vaughn all of South Haven, Michigan, Sheldon, Llyod and Tyrone Hobbs of Grand Junction, Michigan, uncle; Melvin (Cliffalee) Allen of Chicago, Ill, aunts; Barbara (Robert) Allen of South Haven, Michigan, Doreen (Jessie) West of Benton Harbor, Michigan and aunt; Marie Allen of Chicago, Ill, cousins; Linda (Ralph) Barton, Stephanie (“D”) Hunn, Lisa (Berry) Strong and Jetaun Strong, Leslie Allen, Jennifer Day, Jason Allen and Johnathan Allen, nephews; Dureya (Aisha) Gibson, Gabriel Gibson, Robert Morgan, Kalip Allen, Loniel Hoggs, Ian Allen-White, Jamone (Ruby) Allen, Jalil Smith, Marcus (Audreonna) Allen, Demonta Hudson Jr., one great nephew; Keton Scott Gibson, nieces; Hillary (Jerry) Mahone, Kimosha (Phil) Allen-King, Audriana Gibson, Kathleen (Derrick) Nabb and Nadia Kimbrough and many more nieces, nephews and cousins that are too many to name, God children; Willard Payne, Joseph Dukes, Alex (Markiea) Love, Herman (Pain) Smith, Rudy Rison, Andre Smith, Alvin Williams, Methos, Lashawna Dukes, Naikita Dukes, Antionette (Toy) Davis, Mickey Mitchell and Tyisha Brooks.

A special message to Jean’s sisters; Fran Eggleston, Louella Love and Tammy Dukes.  You were her rocks.  She spoke of you all as if you were her biological sisters.  Her blood couldn’t have made you any closer.  Thank you for loving her and always being there for her in every aspect of her life.

The family would like to thank her church family, the Missionary Board, Sparrow Medical Hurley Medical Center, Bronson Oncology, UofM Hospital, Hospice for many years of care, a host of nurses and doctors and her family at WIS International.

Wake will take place on July 24, 2021 at 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM at the Greater Pentecostal Temple C.O.G.I.C. in South Haven.  Funeral Services will follow at 1:00 PM with Bishop Fred Cunningham II officiating.  Nelda will be laid to rest at Grace Lawn Cemetery in Flint, Michigan.   Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guestbook at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.