Miami, Fla.
REFLECTIONS OF AN ALPHA WIDOW THE WIFE OF BROTHER ORAL A. ALLEN
Brother Oral A. Allen, Past President of Beta Beta Lambda Chapter, Past State Director and local chairman of the 1975 National Convention, departed this life August 17, 1972. To his Alpha Brothers, the widow stated, "Finally, we shall live as though everyday is a greater challenge upon the earth and to mankind, and conduct ourselves accordingly."
BROTHER FIRBY (Continued from page 45) Father Firby was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Bronx, N.Y. on January 9, 1972 by the Right Reverend Robert L. DeWitt, D.D., Bishop of Pennsylvania. On May 28, 1972, while still in the Sacred Order of Deacons, he was appointed Vicar of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, New York by the Right Reverend Richard B. Martin, Suffragan Bishop of Long Island and Archdeacon of Brooklyn. Father Firby was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests on Saturday, July 8, 1972 at the Church of the Annunciation, the Right Rev. Richard B. Martin presiding. He said his First Mass at Calvary Church the following Sunday morning, July 9, 1972. Father Firby's Organizational Affilations include, The Bronx Clergy Coalition, the Advisor Board of State Senator J. Galiber, The Board of Directors of City Wide Inter-Faith, the Planning Committee of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, the Union of Black Clergy, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Board of Directors of Greater New York Urban League. Father Firby departed this life early Saturday morning, January 6, 1973, the result of an automobile accident. He is survived by his mother, father, sisters, grand parents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, God mother and many cousins.
By Fashion & Feature Editor Miami Times On last Thursday morning I stopped in on Mrs. Marion P. Allen, wife of the late Oral A. Allen, (principal-Lillie C. Evans Elem. School and Former Miami Police Officer), at their palatial Scott Lake Home on NW 179th Street. My presence on this occasion was warranted, but the hour of arrival was insignificant. Seconds later another friend dropped in because he did not want others to witness the expression of his emotions at this sad hour. But the Widow Allen took him in her arms and suggested "Big Al" was big, brave, and strong and he would want him to be the same. Following these words of consolation, he stated, "you know, I think a monument should be erected in his honor — like Martin Luther King, the Kennedy Brothers, and people like that." As an educator, my comment to his remark was, "why not name a school in his honor — they're building a lot of new ones now." Marion at this early hour in the A.M. was utilizing her domestic qualities BRO. WASHINGTON which many friends do not know she possesses-ie. dusting, sweeping, etc.-as I fol(Continued from page 45) lowed her from room to room. She stated that they (her friends) will never believe He was a trustee of Holy Trinity Bapthis Vivian, "me cleaning up." tist Church and had been an active layFinally she was seated and as I sat with her, I asked, "Marion, just how does man all of his life. one feel when something like this happens?" Very simply she uttered the following: In 1966 Brother Washington was the "Well, Vivian, I have no fears — I'm an athlete and when one goes out on the field to meet his opponent, he wants to win. During the years of our marriage first staff member honored by the Y's "Big Al" and I often challenged each other with negative and positive expressions Men's Club of the Christian Street of our views on various issues. We both recognized that there must be a winner Branch. He was a director of the Tribune Charities, active in the Red Cross, and a loser in any event. In this instance, I lost." Mrs. Allen is a native Miamian who graduated from Dorsey High School. She member of the Health and Welfare received a B.S. Degree in Physical Education from Allen University in Columbia, Council of Philadelphia, the State YMCA South Carolina and the M.S. Degree in Education from Florida A&M University. Board, director of the American Bond and Mortgage Company, Alpha Phi She has also done further study at Barry College. Her twenty years in the educational system have given her contact and Alpha Fraternity, and a member of the experience as a teacher of Physical Education, Science, Adult Education and NAACP. Social Studies. She has also worked as a Guidance Counselor and is presently His is survived by his wife, the former a Work Experience Coordinator at North Dade Jr. High School. Eleanor Amager; a son. Milton A., a Mrs. Allen is affiliated with the following organizations. sister, Mrs. Marion Kinchelow of Mount (Continued on page 48) Claire, N.J.; and two granddaughters.
47