State Rep. Bernard Allen dies

The legislator, who had a stroke last month, was an advocate for poor families and black teachers

State Rep. Bernard Allen, a legislator with a reputation for fighting for the underdog, died Friday just weeks before he would have been re-elected to his third term. He was 69.

Allen, a retired teacher who lived in Southeast Raleigh, died when a blood clot entered his lung Friday night, killing him instantly, according to the House administrative clerk.

After suffering a mild stroke in late September, he had been recuperating at WakeMed. Friends and family say he kept working from his bed until his very last hours.

Octavia Rainey, a Southeast Raleigh community activist, said she met with Allen on Friday afternoon. He wanted her to investigate the condemnation of an elderly diabetic woman's house in Wake Forest.

"She was not in his district, but that didn't matter to him," Rainey said. "She was an elderly lady who needed help."

Allen represented Wake County's 33rd House District as a Democrat since 2002. He was running for re-election unopposed.

Over the years, he stood up for poor families in Wake County, black teachers who had been wrongly fired and homeowners whose wells had been contaminated.

"Bernard had a clear view of what he thought was right and he stayed that course," said former Raleigh City Council member Brad Thompson, a longtime friend.

Allen played an instrumental role in creating the state lottery. He was one of four sponsors of the bill that narrowly passed the legislature in 2005, and this year was chief supporter of an oversight committee in charge of ensuring the proceeds are spent on education.

After working as a lobbyist for the state educators union and N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Allen ran for the state House seat vacated by veteran Democratic legislator Dan Blue in 2002.

Two years later, he ran for re-election without a Republican opponent.

In the coming legislative session, he planned to advocate for low-income families who get trapped in long-term contracts from TV and appliance rental companies, Rainey said.

Allen was born Aug. 24, 1937, in Allendale, S.C. Raised by his grandparents, he went to the nearby Voorhees Junior College in 1956. He signed up for the football team, despite being much shorter than the other players.

Sport funds education

Bob Bridges, who met Allen while studying at Voorhees, said Allen's goal was to get a football scholarship to St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, a historically black college that was a sister school to Voorhees.

"He said 'I've got to get a college education, and football is how I'm going to do that,' " Bridges said.

Allen was a running back, though his teammates referred to him as a "scatback" -- the nickname for a shorter player in that position. On the field and off, he was known for his energetic, aggressive style.

He got the scholarship and graduated from St. Augustine's in 1962.

Later, he went to another historically black college, N.C. Central University in Durham, where he earned a master's degree in public administration in 1979. He also did graduate work in education at East Carolina University.

Allen worked as a high school teacher and administrator for years, retiring as assistant superintendent for Vance County schools. As a legislator, Allen worked to get more state money for St. Augustine's and NCCU, as well as other historically black colleges. In October, the NCCU alumni association made him a member of its Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife, Vivian Sneed Allen; two sons, Bernard II of Raleigh and Andre of Greensboro; and a grandson.

Under state law, Democratic leaders in District 33 must pick a replacement candidate, who would be all but guaranteed to win the election. Allen's name will still appear on the ballots, which have already been printed.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Raleigh. Arrangements are being handled by Lightner Funeral Home.