Mr. David Lewis Allen

It is with deep sorrow that the Allen family announces the death of Mr. David Lewis Allen, 99. Mr. Allen entered into rest on Friday, February 17, 2023. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home & Crematory are caring for the family. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 o'clock on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 145 E. College Avenue, Hartsville, SC, with The Rev. Fran Elrod and The Rev. Tony Adams officiating. A visitation will be held in All Saints Hall immediately following the service. The interment will be private. Mr. Allen died peacefully Friday afternoon, February 17, 2023, in Hartsville, SC. He was the son of Frederick G. Allen and Marguerite M. Fletcher Allen of Hartsville, SC. In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by his wife of more than 65 years, Anna Divver Vaughan. He also was preceded in death by two brothers, Fred Allen (Sheri Helen) of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Fletcher Allen (Betty) of Franklin, TN; and sisters, Jane Graham (Ed) of Hamlet, NC, and Lutie Gibbes (Jimmy) of Bennettsville, SC. A child of the Depression, he grew up in rural Darlington County, SC, and went on to graduate from Presbyterian College in 1943. A veteran of World War II, he earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for heroic service in the Ardennes Forest during the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to Hartsville, where he met the love of his life, Anna Divver, and began raising their two children, David, Jr., and Rachel. He also began his 43-year career with Coker’s Pedigreed Seed Company, retiring as General Farm Manager. In those years, he developed a national reputation as a preeminent agriculturist and leader in the soil and water conservation movement. His reputation as a farmer extended far beyond South Carolina. Agricultural experts came from as far as India, Egypt, and China to study farm practices he developed. In 2009, he was awarded the state’s highest civilian recognition, The Order of the Palmetto, for his extraordinary lifetime of achievement, service, and contributions of national and statewide significance. As a conservation leader, he believed that we were but stewards of the land and water, that God blessed us with their use, and we are morally bound to protect them. A member of the Southeastern Conservation Partnership Hall of Fame, he served two terms on the South Carolina Land Resources Commission and as chairman for one of those terms. He served over 30 years as a Conservation District Commissioner in Darlington County, many as its chairman. In 2005, he was named District Commissioner of the Year in South Carolina. On the national stage, he served on the National Association of Conservation Districts Board of Directors for six years. Locally, he served on the Board of the South Carolina Farm Bureau and on the board and as president of the Darlington County Farm Bureau. Among his many awards, he was recognized as the Darlington County Agriculturist of the Year, as well as Distinguished Agriculturist by the South Carolina Farmers Cooperative Council. His lifelong devotion to the land saw him continue to manage farmland well into his 90s. He also was a founder and president of the Coker Farms National Historic Landmark Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Coker’s Pedigreed Seed Company’s pioneering work breeding plants and developing high-quality seeds. A lifetime member of Wesley United Methodist Church, David served in any capacity needed, from chairing every committee that required his service – from lay leader to teaching Sunday school to helping run the church soup kitchen. In honor of his decades of service, the David Allen Prayer Garden is just outside the north side of the church sanctuary. He was a Past Master of Hartsville Lodge #173, Past District Deputy Grand Master, and member of the Omar Shrine, having held numerous local and regional offices. He was recently recognized for his 75 years of service in the Hartsville Lodge. He was also a member of the Hartsville American Legion Post #53. He is survived by his son, David L. Allen Jr. (Debra); daughter, V. Rachel Allen Franklin (Lonnie), both of Columbia; sister, Elsie Allen Byrd of Hartsville; as well as four generations of many beloved nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, the Coker Farms National Historic Landmark Foundation, or a charity of one’s choice. The family would like to thank the Staff at Morrell Nursing Center for their loving care of David.

Tributes

Mr. David Lewis Allen

June 4, 1923 - February 17, 2023