Obituary of Nancy Allen

Nancy Gayle Allen, 82, of Columbia, passed away on September 12, 2023. Gayle was born in Kingstree, SC, on July 1, 1941, to the late William Brunson Allen and Ruby Bradham Allen. In addition to her parents, Gayle was preceded in death by her brother, Larry Allen.

Gayle is survived by her sister, Betty A. Hollis of Springfield, VA; her niece, Kimberly Allen Atkinson of Lexington, SC; her nephew, Stephen (Melissa) Allen of Pittsboro, NC; her nephew, Blake Hollis, and niece, Kelly Hollis of Gainesville, VA; five grandnephews, Tommy Atkinson, Tyler Atkinson, Isaac Allen, Jake Hollis, and Cole Hollis; one grandniece, Morgan (JT) Hollis Whitt, and their daughter Stella Whitt.

Gayle graduated from Kingstree High School in 1959 and completed college courses at Winthrop College. Gayle retired from Colonial Life Insurance (Unum), where she spent most of her professional career.  After her retirement from Colonial Life, she enjoyed working part time for many years at St. Andrews Public Library.

Next to spending time with her family, her favorite thing was her annual summer beach trips to Pawley’s Island with her lifelong friends, Anne Turbeville Heles, Patty Bird Powell, Anne McCutcheon Swasko, Brenda Boyd Pringle, the late Sarah Strange Bailey, Jayne Lewis Horton, Beth Burgess Poston, and Patricia Burrows Ellerbe.