Obituary of Rachel Perry Allison

DURHAM .Rachel Mae Perry Allison After 89 years, and a lifetime filled with being a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Rachel Mae Perry Allison passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013. Born on July 28, 1924, Rachel grew up on a farm in Franklin County, daughter of Bessie Purgerson Perry and Allie P. Perry, sister to William, Ellis, Tom, Rebecca, Christine, and Janie. After a childhood filled with working the farm growing cotton, she followed her brother Ellis to Durham, where she married Ervin Allison on Christmas Eve in 1943 - this year would have marked their 70th wedding anniversary. Rachel and Ervin lived in Durham for over 50 years, raising a family of three daughters, Linda Ellis (Stan), Kay Johnson (Walker) and Jean Britt. Rachel was truly the heart of the home. She was known for her garden, sewing the girl's clothes and making some of the best meals in town in her tiny kitchen. She and her husband attended Guess Road Baptist Church for years, moving to Grey Stone Church later in life. Rachel was pre-deceased by her husband Ervin in 2008. Her sweetness and kindness are cherished by her daughters, along with her grandchildren who fondly called her "Ma-ma", Alise McNeill (Don), Brian Johnson (Natalie), Shannon Rogers (Mark), Tim Johnson (Brooke) and Blair Henley. She was also the great-grandmother of Sophie McNeill, Sydney Rogers, Gavin Rogers and soon-to-arrive, baby Kensley Johnson. Visitation will take place at Grey Stone Church at 1:00pm, on Dec. 29, followed by a memorial service beginning at 2:00pm. A graveside service will follow at Little River Presbyterian Church, Hurdle Mills. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Masonic Home for Children (formerly known as the Oxford Children's Orphanage), 600 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565 or if preferred, flowers will be received at Walker's Funeral Home, 120 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27516. Online condolences may be sent to www.walkersfuneralservice.com