Allen Long was born on December 8, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Edna Brooks Long and Henry Russell Long, both of whom preceded him in death. Born to this union were eleven children and Allen, who was the tenth child. Nine of his siblings preceded him in death, Victoria, Russell, Harold, Vonsell, Juanita, Gearldine, Carl, Dorothy, and Kenneth.

A native Clevelander, he attended Cleveland public schools, graduating from Glenville High School. After high school, he embarked on a variety of career paths until choosing a long lasting career in the insurance industry. For over 40 years, he provided high quality insurance coverage to many families in and around the greater

Cleveland

area.

In the spring of 1956, Allen met and married Shirley Atwell Dobbins; to this union, five children were born, Rochelle, Craig, Darren, David, and Daphne. Though the marriage didn’t last a lifetime, its memories are forever. He would later meet and marry Joann Walker, his wife of thirty-four years till her death. Together, they raised one daughter,

Monique.

Allen was a big Cleveland sports fan; he supported the Cleveland Browns, Indians (now the Guardians), and the Cavaliers. He often watched games with his children, celebrating wins and sharing disappointing losses. He was a diehard Browns fan with season tickets, attending games at the old Municipal Stadium. He was able to share in the joy of the Cavs winning the 2016 NBA Championship against the Golden State Warriors with his children. Allen was an avid golfer and was a successful bowler. He

helped to bring championships to many leagues.

Under the pastoral leadership of Elder J.H. Lawrence, Allen was baptized at the Cedar Avenue Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. He was very involved in the church, utilizing his skills as a Deacon, Sabbath School Teacher, and Choir Director. Allen was committed to his service to the church and helped wherever needed. He was instrumental in helping to build Ramah Jr. Academy and Southeast Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

As a lover of music, he was well-known for his crooner’s voice. He was a featured soloist and inspired many to follow in his footsteps, including his daughter, Daphne. He recorded several albums and shared his voice in several quartets, groups, and choirs. His legacy of music will forever be remembered.

Allen is survived by: his last sibling, Elder Richard Long (Mildred); his children, Rochelle Long, Craig Long (Crystal), Darren Long, David Long (Evelyn), Daphne Hubbard (Michael), and Monique Farrington (Paul); grandchildren, Lonnie Clark (Kitty), Catrina Clark, Shonte Clark, Nyoka Seymore (Mark), Rachel Garret (Shair), Ashley Benjamin (Jamal), Jennifer Long, Christian Long, Stephanie Long, Wayne Thomas (Tiffany), Daycita Hill (Dan), David Long, Marcus Miller, Michael Miller, Tahlia Williams, Zachary Scruggs, Dametrias Scruggs, Keyera Scruggs, Darrell Butler, Britne Dearing (Brian), Jordan Hubbard, Jackson Hubbard, Jaden Hubbard, Makenah Farrington; fifteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Allen lived a full life, impacting many along the way. He was well-loved and appreciated by many for his smile, hugs, and encouraging words. One final gift of his life to all can be found in the words of a song he often sang, “If you know the Lord, you need nobody else, take time to pray.”