Clara David Allen

Mrs. Clara David Allen, of Salemtowne Retirement Community, Winston-Salem, died on Sunday, May 28, 2017. Mrs. Allen was born in Bennettsville, SC, on January 14, 1921, to the late Frances Holyfield and Harry Lee David. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Charles M. Allen, and a brother, Luther Watson David. She is survived by two nieces, Felice David Kay and husband Ian Kay of Carlsbad, California, and Janice Allen of Winter Springs, Florida.
Mrs. Allen was educated in the Bennettsville public schools and Flora McDonald College (now St. Andrew's University, Laurinburg, NC), where she majored in Primary Education and Voice. She taught in the Wilmington, NC, schools during World War II while her husband was overseas. After the war, the Allens moved to Wake Forest, NC, where Dr. Allen taught at Wake Forest College. There, Mrs. Allen taught in the Wake Forest schools and resumed voice lessons with Estelle McKinnon. With her beautiful soprano voice, Mrs. Allen was an active recitalist, church soloist, and member of the Grassroots Opera Company.
In 1956 the Allens moved to Winston-Salem when now Wake Forest University was relocated. Mrs. Allen taught for 34 years at the Summit School until her retirement in 1990. After retirement she volunteered as a tutor in the adult education program and at Salemtowne Retirement Community.
In Winston-Salem, Mrs. Allen maintained an active musical career. She was soloist, in succession, at Centenary Methodist Church, Wake Forest Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, and Augsburg Lutheran Church. She was a soloist with the Winston-Salem Symphony, and sang in the Symphony Chorale and the Singers Guild. She was a founding member of the Piedmont chamber Singers and performed with this group until 2005.
Mrs. Allen was a charter member of Wake Forest Baptist Church, belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma (chapter president), The Wake Forest University club (president), and the Wake Forest University garden and cooking clubs.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 3 PM in The Saal at Salemtowne Retirement Community.
Memorials may be made to The Clara David Allen Scholarship Fund, Summit School, 2100 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104.

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