James Madison Allen

James M. Allen, 81, of 7 McGregor Place, Johnson City died Monday, January 25, 2010 at his residence. Mr. Allen was a native of Wetumpka, Alabama and had lived in Johnson City since 1954.He was a son of the late Charles Edward and Nell McGregor Allen. He was a 1945 graduate of the Sheffield High School at age 16 completing high school in three years. He was a veteran of the Marine Corp. He attended Florence State (now Northern Alabama University before and after serving in the Marines. He started working for C.I.T Corporation in 1949, served as Assistant District Manager in Nashville and transferred to Johnson City as District Manager at the age of 25 in 1954. In 1959 Mr. Allen bought Griffith Motors(the Buick, Pontiac, GMC dealer) and operated it till 1984. Mr. Allen formed the Southeastern Tile Distributors and was a past owner of the Jonesborough Herald and Tribune newspaper. He was one of the founders of Emersons Restaurants having 43 restaurants in 16 states at one time. Mr. Allen was the Campaign Manager for Ray Blanton in his term as governor. He was a Founder/Director of Mountain Empire Bank . He served as a Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Johnson City Industrial Committee, Johnson City Country Club, United Way, American Legion Little League, The Civitan Club, President of the Pirates Club, member of the ETSU Foundation and Presidents Trust. He was an integral member of the establishment of ETSU Medical School, and the ETSU Allen Family Scholarship. He is preceded in death by: his parents; one brother, Charles Allen; one sister Libby Branch, and one grandson McGregor Allen. Survivors include: four sons, Mike Allen, Keith Allen and Madison Allen, all of Johnson City, and Ronnie Allen of Greenville, SC; his ex-wife, Jean Hackbarth of Johnson City; three sisters, Mary Cox of Durham, NC, Louise Petrusnek of Tuscaloosa, AL, and Nell Roberts of Tuscumbia, AL; six grandsons, Jordan Allen, Mitch Allen, Shae Allen, Lacey Allen, Whitney Allen and Nick Allen. The family of James M. Allen will receive friends at Morris-Baker on Thursday, January 28, 2010 from 5 to 7 PM. A graveside service will be conducted at 2:30 PM Saturday, January 30, 2010 in the Sheffied Oakwood Cemetery in Sheffield, AL. The family will also receive friends at the Morrison Funeral Home, 825 N. Main Street, Tuscumbia, AL on Saturday from 1 to 2 PM prior to the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Mac Foundation, 27 Kershaw Court, Greenville, SC 29607 (www.themacfoundation.com)