Rev. Hoyt A. Allen

Hoyt A. Allen died peacefully in the early morning of April 12, 2018. He was the son of George and Nellie Mae Allen. One of six siblings, Hoyt was preceded in death by his parents, older brother, Lovic Allen, and sisters, Ruby Reid and Inez Allen.

Hoyt grew up in Cleveland and graduated from Cleveland High School. He attended Young Harris College and the University of Georgia where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Education. Hoyt went back to Cleveland after finishing his education and taught civics and social studies for several years at Cleveland High School and sociology at Truett-McConnell College. He also served 2 years in the United States Army. Hoyt earned a Master of Divinity at the Candler School of Theology of Emory University in 1971. He was ordained an elder in The United Methodist Church in 1972. While in seminary he served as Associate Minister at Chamblee First United Methodist Church. Following his graduation from Candler, he served in Waleska, Georgia, as Chaplain at Reinhardt College and as minister of Waleska United Methodist Church. He then served the Owl Rock, Harlem, St. Phillip, Commerce First, Madison First, and Fair Oaks United Methodist Churches until his retirement from full-time ministry in 2003. In retirement he served the Clemens Chapel and Union Hill United Methodist Churches.

Hoyt met his wife, Martha, when they were both teaching in Cleveland. They married in 1970 and had two daughters, Nancy and Susan. Nancy is an American Sign Language interpreter at Clemson University and lives with her husband. Simon, in Greenville, SC. Susan is an elder in the United Methodist Church and serves as pastor at Embry Hills United Methodist Church in Atlanta. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, the Rev. Dave Allen Grady, and their daughter, Joy.

Hoyt loved to be outdoors. Having grown up on a farm, he loved to garden and work in his yard. He was an avid reader and learner, and loved to watch the Atlanta Braves. He believed that he could figure out how to fix or make just about anything and was successful at both most of the time. He was dedicated to both his immediate family and his extended family. He had many nieces and nephews who were very special to him, and he loved to get together with family whenever there was an opportunity, especially at holidays. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh with family and friends. He was full of compassion and kindness, never meeting a stranger, always with an encouraging word to share with someone else.

In the last years of his life, Hoyt lived with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Though the disease took away his mobility and eventually his ability to communicate, the essence of who he was never was lost. Martha was faithful to remain by his side to the very end. The family continues to be grateful for the many messages of love for him and encouragement that they have received.  

Hoyt will be remembered for his love and kindness by his family, friends, and the members of the many churches he has served. We will never forget his gentle encouragement and support, his sense of humor, his ability to speak the truth in love when it was needed, his strength, and his deep and abiding faith.

A time of visitation with the family will be held on Sunday, April 15 from 3-5 at Barrett Funeral Home in Cleveland, Georgia. A family burial will be held on Monday morning, and the funeral service will be held at 2 pm at Cleveland United Methodist Church. The Revs. Ted Keen, Richard Long, and Dick Huycke will preside.

Donations in Hoyt’s memory may be made to the Cleveland United Methodist Church, 112 E. Kytle Street, Cleveland, GA 30528, or to the Candler School of Theology, 1531 Dickey Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 or www.candler.emory.edu.

To share a memory or to a leave condolence please visit barrettfh.com.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland.