Mrs. Ertha F. Allen

June 26, 1956 - January 21, 2020

Ertha Faye Allen was born on June 26, 1956 in Lexington, Kentucky to Mayme J. Salyers and the late Nelson O. Salyers. She departed this earthly life on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Ertha was educated in the Fayette County School System and was a graduate of Lafayette Senior High School's Class of 1974. She had a passion for the medical field and devoted 21 years in service to others as an Emergency Room Technician and Medical Secretary at St. Joseph East Hospital. Love was the word that Ertha lived by on a daily basis. Her love for the Lord led her to St. John Missionary Baptist Church where she confessed her hope in Christ. Upon uniting in holy matrimony with Rev.Thomas W. Allen, Sr. she became a faithful member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church were you could often find her giving her time and talent to the Culinary Committee. Ertha was also a member of the Women of the Word (WOW) Sunday School Class and the Minister's Wives group. Giving back to her community was also an important part of what made Ertha the lovable person she was. Outside of the church, Ertha was a member of the Phyllis Wheatley Club and you could always count on her to promote and work the annual Girls to Women Explosion event. Proceeding her to Glory were her father, Nelson O. Salyers; a son, William G. Garrett; brothers, Nelson Salyers-Smith and Dana Salyers; and paternal grandmother, Laura Salyers. Celebrating Ertha’s life and honoring her memory are her husband, Rev. Thomas W. Allen, Sr.; two daughters, Stacey Harris and Genita (David) Garth; three sons, Coleman ( Jessica) Sweat, Rev. Edward (Maya Smith) Allen, and Thomas Ethan Allen; bonus children, Kevin Allen, Thomas (Salena) Allen, II, Lafayette ( Jennifer) Jackson, Micahel Allen, Sean (Angelique) Bayshoe, Jasmine Allen, and Jolie Allen; three brothers, Frederick Salyers, Sanford (Linda) Salyers, and Michael (Rainie) Smith; a brother-in-law, Norman (Elaine) Allen; five sisters-in-law, Joetta Allen, Edwina Smarr, Anna (Charles) Edwards, Linda Salyers-Smith, and Charlie Salyers; grandchildren, Kierra Harris, Kamri Harris, Janeisha Garrett, Bryttany Garth, Brýonn Garth, Roman Sweat, Corzyhrian Sweat, ColéMerize Sweat, KiShan Smith, NaTia Ellington Sweat, Cornaiiziah Young, Imani Pierce, Deazon Bohannon; a host of bonus grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and a very special cousin she considered more like an aunt, Anna “Duby” Arthur.