Shirley Mae Allen, 63, of Palatka, entered the sunset of life on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at her residence. The daughter of Catherine Smith Allen and Raymond Allen, Sr., she was born on Tuesday, May 23, 1961 in Palatka. She was educated in the Putnam County School District and attended Palatka Central High School. Shirley was a lifelong and very active member of the Palatka House of God Church, serving under the following pastors: Elder R.M. Bentley, Elder Daniel Savage, Jr., and Bishop Gilbert L. Evans, Jr., J.D., Ph.D. During the years there, she served as Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, YFFU Coordinator and President, she served as custodian, she sang in the choir, led devotion services, she even played the big bass drum. She also chaired the Kitchen Committee, served on the Finance Committee, and the Trustee Board. Deaconess Allen was appointed as a Deaconess in 1980, and served as Recording Secretary for over forty years, until her sunset. She was dedicated and faithful to God, the church, the leadership, and the members of the church, often taking care of the sick and elderly, and praying for all. Shirley enjoyed going to church (she dearly loved her church), talking on the phone, spending time with her family, baking her famous Sock-It-To-Me cakes, feeding family, friends and the neighborhood, hosting family events at her home, solving Sudoku word puzzles, riding in the car with her family and being the personal GPS. She loved listening to gospel music and watching church services on her devices. She was initially employed at Johnson's Daycare as a daycare instructor for a short period of time before becoming a Cashier at Save-a-Lot, where she worked for 35 years until her retirement.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in eternal rest by her brothers, Gus Maxwell Sr., Johnnie Lee Maxwell, Odell Maxwell, Floyd Maxwell; sister, Cora Mae Otto; uncles, Jule Smith, Jr., Jasper Smith, Sr., Wilbert and Willard Smith, Sr. (twin brothers); aunt, Mildred Smith; godmother, Curlease R. Williams.

Deaconess Shirley Allen transitioned to her new home on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at her residence on Husson Avenue.

She leaves to cherish precious memories: daughter, Kizziy Edwards Jackson, Palatka; "like a son"/nephew, Timothy (Ke'andra) Green, Houston, TX; granddaughters, Erykah Riberia Jackson, McKinney, TX; and Kira Epiphany Jackson, Palatka; brother, Raymond Allen, Jr., Jacksonville; 4 sisters, Willie Mae Roberts, Palatka; Lestine Kirkland, DeLand; Janice Denise (Alex) Chance, Jacksonville; Katrenda Yvette (James) Oxendine, Palatka; godchildren, Darneshia Spell, John Pride, both of Palatka; godbrothers: Clifford Williams, Palatka; Bishop Hudson A. Williams, Trenton, NJ; and a host of special nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends including: cousin, Willard Eugene (Annette) Smith, Sr., San Mateo; nephews, Antonio D'juan (Venisha) Hill, Ocala; James (Keisha) Oxendine, Palatka; nieces, Angela (Robert) Williams, Katrice Oxendine, Ammie Maxwell (like a sister); friends, Minister Mevely Spell, and Gladys Lee, all of Palatka.