Dr. John Allen

Dr. John Allen, 92, of Calhoun, passed away on December 13, 2024, at his residence following a brief illness.

Born on February 6, 1932, in Carroll County, Georgia, Dr. Allen was the son of Eulice Alexander Allen and Maggie Lee Clay. He had one sister, Kathryn Snyder, of Jackson, Georgia, who preceded him in death.

Dr. Allen married his first wife, Kathleen, in 1952, with whom he had three children: Bruce, Melinda, and Scott. Kathleen passed away in 1992. In 1994, he married Faye Cornelison Allen, and together they welcomed Faye’s son, John, into their family.

A Navy veteran, Dr. Allen served in Korea from 1952 to 1954 and was honorably discharged. He attended Douglas County High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree from West Georgia College in 1961. He continued his studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received both his Master’s in Theology in 1965 and his Doctor of Ministry in 1978.

Dr. Allen was a lifelong Baptist minister, ordained in 1957, and continued to serve until recently. He served as senior pastor of Belmont Baptist Church for 15 years, baptizing nearly 400 individuals. He also taught for 14 years at the Gordon County Adult Christian Education Center and served as chaplain for Law Enforcement Seminars as well as the Gordon County Sheriff’s Department.

Throughout his life, Dr. Allen had a passion for travel, visiting places as far as Israel, Egypt, Scotland, and Norway, but he also cherished time spent at his lake house with family and friends. He enjoyed cycling the country roads of West Georgia.

In addition to his wife Faye, Dr. Allen is survived by his children: Johnny Bruce Allen (Laura) of Marietta; Melinda Allen Erwin of Calhoun; Kevin Scott Allen (formerly married to Brandi) of Roswell; and stepson John Cornelison (Angie) of Calhoun. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Jason Allen, Rachel Curry, Tyler Erwin, Olivia Allen, Elizabeth Allen; step-grandchildren Emilee and Dodd; and three great-grandchildren: Gavin, Lucy, and Kimber.

Dr. Allen was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Kathleen, and his sister Kathryn.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 17 from 2-4 PM at Belmont Baptist Church, with the funeral service following at 4 PM. His sons, Dr. Bruce Allen and Rev. Scott Allen, will deliver messages, and his daughter, Melinda, will also speak. Pallbearers will include Tyler Erwin, Michael Carraway, Dodd Cornelison, and Larry Hand. Jason Allen will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Belmont Baptist Church. Dr. Allen will be interred privately at the Georgia National Cemetery.

Dr. Allen’s legacy as a devoted servant of God, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather will be cherished by all who knew him.

You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com.

Thomas Funeral Home has proudly been entrusted with the care of Dr. John Allen.