Welcome to Transformation Ministries First Baptist Church

Senior Saint

Sis. Dorothy Armstrong Allen

Dorothy Armstrong Allen, a native of Norfolk, VA. was educated in the public schools of Norfolk and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. She attended Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) and majored in Library Sciences and Child Psychology. She also spent a summer in Atlanta, GA attending Atlanta University, School of Library Sciences.

As a young child, Mrs. Allen was a member of Bank Street Baptist Church and was baptized at the age of eight, professing her faith. She was very active in church especially with the Junior Missionary Baptist Young Peoples Union and Sunday school. During her teen years, she taught Sunday school and was the teacher of the primary class for 11 years.

In 1939, Mrs. Allen married the late Ernest Benjamin Allen II and moved to Charlottesville, VA, where she now resides. For 31 years, she worked at the University of Virginia (UVA) Hospital. Even after retiring at the age 65 from UVA, Mrs. Allen worked at Martha Jefferson Hospital for six years in its Medical Records Department as a Medical Records Coder. She retired (again!) in 1990 at the young age of 72.

Mrs. Allen joined First Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Benjamin Bunn in 1944. She served First Baptist in many capacities that included teaching Sunday and Vacation Bible School. Mrs. Allen dedicated most of her life doing mission work. She was leader of the Junior Red Circles and a charter member of the Susie Lawson Farrar Missionary Circle, serving as Chaplain and Treasurer. She was also the President of the Senior Missionary Society for 12 years.

In 1980, Mrs. Allen was ordained as one of the first two women Deacons in First Baptist Church, holding his office for 15 years. In December 2000, she was honored as Deacon Emeritus.

Mrs. Allen is a member of the Baptist General Conventions (BGC) of Virginia, where she served as Area Chairperson and Vice President of Area F, including the cities of Charlottesville, Waynesboro, Staunton, Clifton Forge, and Lexington, VA. She spent much of her time promoting the work of missions in the Division of Women. In 1976, Mrs. Allen was elected Vice President of the Division of Women, serving a tenure of three years. In 1979, she was elected as the President of the Division of Women with a two-year tenure. In 1992, Mrs. Allen was the recipient of the BGC’S Pioneer Award. Her anointed works have exemplified her love for God, the church, and missions!

Mrs. Allen is the mother of three, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother of six. Mrs. Allen is now 85 years old.

Beloved, let us love one another. for love is of GOD, and he who loves is born of GOD and knows God He who does not love does not know GOD; for GOD is love. " I John 4:7-8