Vanessa A. Allen

January 12, 1964 - November 28, 2021

Vanessa’s Life and Legacy God called his servant, Vanessa Ann Allen, home on Sunday afternoon, November 28, 2021 at the age of fifty-seven (57), surrounded by family. She was born on January 12, 1964 to Janet Lee Armwood and the late Otis Lee Shelton. Vanessa was affectionately known as Nessa, Nana, VA and Lil Bits. Vanessa was educated in the Somerset County public school system, graduating from Washington High School in Princess Anne, Maryland in 1982. Later she attended and graduated from Wor-Wic Tech Community College in Salisbury, Maryland. Her employment included several years at Avery W. Hall Insurance Company. She later worked for nineteen (19) years at Eastern Correctional Institute in Westover, Maryland before finally transferring to the Department of Rehabilitation Services, from which she retired. Vanessa truly loved and believed in God. Her Christian training began early in her life at St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church (West Post Office) in Princess Anne, Maryland, where she was an active choir member. She later joined Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Princess Anne, Maryland, where she attended faithfully and served as an usher, until her health began to fail. Vanessa was also President of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Progressive Baptist Association of the Eastern Shore, Inc. and the Assistant Recording Secretary. As a foster parent for the State of Maryland, Vanessa cared for and raised twenty (20) children throughout the years. Her unselfish acts of love and numerous sacrifices provided many of these children with opportunities they might not have had without Vanessa being a part of their lives. Vanessa was united in Holy matrimony on January 12, 2016 to James Allen. To this union, they have one daughter, Shyashia Allen. Precious memories of Vanessa’s life will be cherished by: her husband, James Allen; three daughters, Courtney Cooper, Syrenthia Tingle and Shyashia Allen, all of Salisbury, Maryland; two grandchildren, Mya Tingle and Addison Ward; her mother, Janet Armwood of Princess Anne, Maryland (step father Aloin Armwood (by whom she was raised) preceded her in death in February 2021; one sister, Resena Armwood of Princess Anne, Maryland; one brother, Terrance Armwood of Rosedale, Maryland; four sisters-in-law, Jonell (Earl) Reeves, Jo Ann Allen, Harriett Carson and Tina (Jermaine) Fields; four brothers-in-law, David (Charlotte) Allen, Marshall Allen, Steven (Valeria) Allen and Carlos Jamison; one niece, Jasmin Armwood; two nephews, Khail Fletcher and Justin Armwood; seven aunts, Ruth Fisher, Olivia Hutt, Shirley Hutt, Dollie Wallace, Isabella Maddox, Corranda Disharoon and Ethel Deshield; two uncles, Apostle A. Darnell Hutt and Joe Shelton and host of cousins and friends. In addition, she was preceded in death by her grandmother, Annie Mae Hutt, who raised her and her 2nd grandmother, Hettie “Grammy” Polk.