Father Joseph Hugh Bullock

Mother Dorothy Juanita Allen

m. Evelyn Jenkins

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Obituary for William "Nick" Allen

Early Sunday morning, our Heavenly Father came for his son, William Edward Allen, Sr., who

was born on May 7, 1933 in Durham, North Carolina, to the late Dorothy Juanita Allen and the late Joseph Hugh Bullock. He departed this life on December 8, 2013 at Duke Medical Pavilion

in Durham.

He was educated in the Durham Public School System. He retired as a foreman for the Venable Tobacco Company.

At the young age of thirteen in 1946, "Nick" as he was called by both family and friends became a member of Union Baptist Church (UBC) under the leadership of the late Reverend Ananias S. Croom when the church resided on Glendale Avenue. He was later shepherded by the late Dr. Grady D. Davis and now Reverend Kenneth R. Hammond.

When Nick first joined Union Baptist, he was also singing with a local kids' group, the Golden Jubilees.

He began his musical ministerial journey by joining the youth choir at UBC shortly after becoming a member. He later sung with several adult choirs and eventually with the UBC male chorus. As time progressed, Nick sang with the Royal Jubilee Singers along with Leroy Caesar. The group was hired by Evangelist Oral Roberts to sing in many revivals and gospel programs across the country. After touring for a few years, Nick joined the Famous Interns. During the 40s, the Interns toured and were involved in numerous radio shows and personal appearances. By 1950, the Famous Interns became the first quartet in Durham to have a regular weekly TV show for two years. They also recorded over 20 songs.

Although Nick's musical ministry started at the church, his musical talents afforded him many

opportunities to travel with and occasionally lend his vocal talents to some notable artists in the music industry. He sang with artists such as Clyde McPhatter, Sam Cooke, Bill Pinckney and the Drifters. In 1968, he recorded a song that was ahead of its time, sounding more like early „70s soul entitled "Hard Way To Go" and produced by Wallas Records, Inc. One of his most joyous and memorable experiences was during a period that he sang with one of his closest friends, the late John P. Kee, Sr. at Union Baptist Church.

As Nick traveled extensively throughout the United States, his faith in God and the church remained steady. After his travels for musical pursuits, Nick returned home and resumed singing with the UBC Male Chorus. In recent years, due to declining health, he was not able to sing with the male chorus as a consistently active member. However, he remained a dedicated and faithful member who attended church each Sunday and sung with triumphant joy from the first pew!

Those who are left to treasure his memory are his surviving wife, Evelyn Jenkins Allen; two sons, William E. Allen, Jr. and Larry "Lil? Nick" Allen (Venita); seven daughters, Margaret A. Littlejohn, Jean A. Curtis (Phillip), Sheilah A. Coffin (Larry), Denise Bynum, Dr. Cheryl A. Brewer, Jewel A. Morgan and Nirilla A. Kearney (Ricky); thirteen grandchildren, Kemberli McDuffie, Phillip W. Curtis, Jr. (Jacinta), Michele Littlejohn, Michael Curtis (Tamara), Jonathan Curtis (Shanon), Shuntia Hunter, Tierre Brewer, Ashley Littlejohn, Chantel Brewer, Rashad Kearney, Whitney Coffin, Nicholas Allen and Diamond Morgan; one sister Sandra Chavis (Johnny) and one brother, Rickey Bullock (Averie); twelve great-grandchildren; four aunts; four uncles and a host of other relatives and friends. Nick was preceded in death by his brothers, the late Sidney L. Allen and the late Hugh Bullock. He also left Ed Pierce, a special friend whom he considered "a special brother with a different mother but the same heavenly father" who stuck by him to the end, and Evangelist Musella E. Curtis, a great spiritual friend and prayer partner whom he called on often for prayer in his most difficult days.

The memory of Nick's smile and jovial disposition will forever remain in our hearts.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday 1:00 PM Union Baptist Church with the Senior Pastor Rev. Kenneth Ray Hammond officiating. Burial will follow at Beechwood Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at Union Baptist Church and on Thursday the body will lie in state one hour before the service at Union Baptist Church.