Robert was born December 30, 1950, in Louisville, MS. He was a 1968 graduate of Louisville High School, where he served as president of the Math Club. He worked at Stubbs Department Store during his high school years. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1973, with a degree in Business Administration. After college, he worked with Hendrix Electric, and in 1977, went to work with Stuart C. Irby Co. He began as a counter salesman in Tupelo, MS, and quickly moved up to Inside Sales Supervisor, and was promoted to Operations Manager. In December 1981, Robert moved to Mobile, Al, as an Outside Account Salesman. By 1983, he became the number one margin producer in Irby and remained number one for the next 17 years, a record that has never been broken. In 2011, Irby asked Robert to relocate to Jackson, MS, to work in national project sales. By 2005, he was managing Nation Account agreements. He retired in 2015, after a long and illustrious career. Per Mike Leech, senior vice president of Irby Sales, “Robert is a true professional in every way. His success was the result of a passion of his customers, his peers, and a dedication to making Stuart C. Irby Company a best-in-class distributor”. Robert and Yulanda moved back to Louisville in 1999, and he was a faithful member of First Methodist Church. Robert loved his family and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Robert was an avid MSU Bulldog fan and supporter. The Bulldog legacy began with Robert and continued with his son and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Nathan Hayes and Louise Pearson Allen; a son, Robert Brian Allen; and his grandparents, Nathan and Ola McAlily Allen and Jack and Myrtis Pearson.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Yulanda Prisock Allen; two sons, Joseph Nathan (Kenna) Allen, and Derek Michael Allen; three brothers, Delver (Marie) Allen, Billy (Zenita) Allen, and Tim (Becky) Allen; two grandchildren, Emily Allen (Jonathan) Leonard, and Nathan Cole Allen; and a great grandson, John David Allen Leonard; his nieces and nephews, Kaci (Kyle) McDill, Hannah Allen, Natalie Allen, Chas (Veronika)Allen and Ben (Angela) Allen; and a host of great nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Derek Allen, Joe Allen Chas Allen, Jesse Allen, Jonathan Leonard, Brad Dickerson, Kyle McDill, and Nathan Allen.
Memorials in Robert’s memory may be made to First Methodist Church or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.