September 17, 2021, 60, Goldsboro –
Mayor Lawrence Cobin (Chuck) Allen died on Friday, September 17, 2021.
Born on June 19, 1961 to Kay Farr Allen and the late H. David Allen in Atlanta, Georgia, Chuck attended public schools in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. He graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1979 and NCSU in 1984.
An entrepreneur from a young age, Chuck moved back to Goldsboro immediately after graduation and started his lawn care business. Chuck has worked his entire professional life in Wayne County, founding Allen Grading Company. Giving back to his community was paramount to him and through his company he provided help to many local nonprofit groups.
When 3-HC was building its most recent addition, Chuck assembled a group of site-work contractors and convinced them to donate the site work for the expansion, saving 3-HC over $200,000 in site work cost.
When the Paramount was being rebuilt after it burned, his company worked with Mr. David Weil to donate services there.
Recently, when the boy scouts were building bathrooms at Camp Tuscarora, Allen Grading participated in this effort, too.
Chuck and his company were instrumental in the renovation of both the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce offices, as well as the Wayne County Development Alliance boardroom.
Chuck was equally dedicated to giving his time to non- profit organizations in Goldsboro. He served on the boards of the Goldsboro Family YMCA, The Red Cross (where he was instrumental in helping with the purchase of their existing building on George Street), and DGDC (Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation).
He has always been a champion of downtown Goldsboro and worked tirelessly to promote stabilization and revitalization. This effort included not only his time, but also his own personal investments. Chuck served on the board of the Boy Scouts, Wayne Country Day School, and the WCDA (Wayne County Development Alliance). He served on this board when it was the original Committee of 100 and again once it was WCDA. He served as Vice Chairman and Chairman and was very involved in product development.
Chuck has served on the board of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce for the last 11 years, leading the renovation efforts for the Chamber office.
On the Military Affairs Committee Chuck was instrumental in maintaining and improving our community’s relationship with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and in promoting the importance of SJAFB to the Goldsboro community and our nation.
In 1999 Chuck decided to run for political office and has served continuously since that election. He joined as Councilman for District 5 and served there until 2015 when he was elected Mayor. He had served as Mayor Pro Tem for eight of his years as a councilman. One of Chuck’s proudest accomplishments was the fact that he never missed a meeting. It took a terminal cancer diagnosis to get him to miss his first meeting in 20 years.
While undergoing rigorous treatments he constantly asked, “When can I get back to my city?” Chuck was passionate about his commitment to Goldsboro and went so far as to donate his salary to the city employees fund for many years.
Chuck was a member of the Goldsboro Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), serving as Chairman of the TAC for the past 10 years. TAC is the governing body for the Goldsboro Metropolitan Organization (MPO).
Chuck was a Charter Member of the Highway 70 Corridor Commission and played a vital role, along with key state officials, local officials and NCDOT staff, in opening the completed Goldsboro Bypass in 2016. His role was critical in accelerating the completion by 20 years, and he joined Governor Pat McCrory and NCDOT Secretary Nick Tennyson on May 27, 2016 to open the Bypass which provides greater access to Seymour Johnson AFB, the Port at Morehead City, the Global TransPark and the Crystal Coast.
On June 4, 2021, a ceremony to unveil the Chuck Allen Highway was held to recognize his efforts in seeing this project to completion.
In May of 2021, Chuck was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Roy Cooper.
Chuck served on the NC League of Municipalities Law & Finance Committee, the NC Military Affairs Commission, the Metro Mayors Committee, and the Friends of Seymour Johnson AFB.
Chuck has demonstrated a tireless passion for making our community better. He spent countless hours every week on either his city appointment or on charitable organizations. Chuck became a go- to person within our community to get things done because of his dedicated passion and desire to help others. He did all this without fanfare or recognition. He did this simply because he was very proud of and committed to Goldsboro and making it better.
Preceded in death by his father, H. David Allen, Chuck is survived by his wife, Lori Pfrang Allen; children, Justin Edward Allen (Erin), Bryce Cobin Allen, and Anna Lawrence Allen; his mother, Kay Farr Allen; sisters Kelly Allen Richards and Lee Allen Gray (Roy); and grandsons Weston Hayes Allen and John Emmett Allen, who loved their GrandChuck. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews who adored him.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Chuck Allen Scholarship Fund. This fund is being established to provide a need – based scholarship for a Goldsboro resident to attend either police or fire academy. Donations can be made payable to the Chuck Allen Scholarship Fund and sent to Allen Grading Company, PO Box 1838, Goldsboro, NC 27533.
The Allen family thanks the countless people who have prayed and offered support throughout Chuck’s illness.
A Celebration of Life will be held September 21 at 4:30pm at The Farm, 200 Arrington Bridge Road, Goldsboro, NC. Family will greet friends after the service.
