Margaret Trantham Allen

Reidsville - Mrs. G. Lewis (Margaret T.) Allen, Sr. of Reidsville, N.C., passed to glory and reunion with Christ and her late husband January 2, 2012. She passed peacefully at Forsyth Memorial Hospital in Winston Salem, NC. Monday evening. She had been in declining health for several months, although she was able to celebrate her hundredth birthday with family and friends at a birthday celebration at First United Methodist Church.She was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Walter and Sadie Lee Smith Trantham in Reidsville, N.C. September 1, 1911, but was raised in Lexington, N.C. where her father had a blacksmith and carpentry business. She graduated from Lexington High School and worked as a doctor's assistant as well as a dental assistant prior to her marriage.Mrs. Allen was known for her friendship, abilities and eagerness to share her talents with anyone who had a desire to learn. Her talents in cooking, needlework, arts and crafts, etc. Along with her contribution to the community were recognized several years ago at an award ceremony by the Rockingham County Commissioners. She was also a Grand Marshall in the annual Reidsville Christmas Parade. She was very modest about her accomplishments. She was active in the Eastern Star, Girl Scouts, Williamsburg Home Demonstration Club and founded a quilter guild. She helped design the city flag and was instrumental in the development of Courtland Municipal Park. She remembered her great grandmother who was born in 1836 and was happy to share recipes and history from that period with friends. She is survived by a son, George Lewis Allen, Jr., a grandson, Carl W. Allen and great grandson, Forrest P. Allen. Mr. Allen's friend, Ms. Tamara Mitchell and her daughter, Miss Kelly Fox, all of Winston Salem, N.C. as well as 5 nephews and 3 nieces, a number of great and great-great nephews and nieces. She also is survived by two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Holt Allen and Mrs. Francis Allen and a host of friends.She was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. G. Lewis Allen, Sr., a daughter-in-law, Mrs. George L. Allen, Jr., her three brothers, Fred, Reuben and Marshall Trantham and their wives; two brothers-in-law, Dr. Jerry Allen and Mr. Holt Allen as well as a nephew, James H. Trantham. The funeral will be at First United Methodist Church of Reidsville, where she was a member, at 11:00AM Friday, January 6, 2012 with Rev. Marilyn Wyler officiating. Interment will follow at Greenview Cemetery.Family visitation will be at Wilkerson Funeral Home 6:30 to 8:30PM Thursday, January 5. 2012. The family requests that memorials (in lieu of flowers) should be made to The First United Methodist Church, 1520 South Scales St., Reidsville, NC 27320.Recently among some memory material she was saving, the follow words were found on a note pad in her handwriting and initialed by her. This is how she lived her life and how she would have liked to be remembered. "I believe every vocation should be viewed as a Christian calling, and our daily work as a sphere of service to God for the advancement of His Kingdom." M.A.