Heather Allen

Obituary of Heather Denise Allen

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Beloved Heather Denise Allen – also known by her Eritrean name Selamawit Almaz Azeb – passed away peacefully on Monday, September 20, 2021, after an ardous and courageous four-year battle with cancer. She was forty-seven years old.

 

Heather was born on September 29, 1973 in Greensboro, North Carolina to her father, the late Arthur Dennis Selby of Greensboro, and her mother, Nighisti Azeb Abrahale Selby of Eritrea, East Africa. She attended the public schools in Durham where she and her younger sister, Diana, lived with their mother. In 1991, she graduated from Charles E. Jordan High School. Heather and Diana volunteered as candy stripers at several hospitals. Heather’s God-given talent as a nurturer, empathizer and caretaker led her to study nursing at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Registered Nurse degree in 2001.

 

Heather served her patients with great attention, compassion and patience. It was common for her to defend her patients’ medical rights. She often led her patients through death and comforted their family. She was named head nurse at several hospitals and received awards for her exceptional work as a nurse.

 

In her personal life, Heather nurtured all she knew. Heather was a proud, loving and devoted mother to her five children and many other children she “adopted” along the way. She loved her closest friends as sisters. Heather was one who would receive many calls and unannounced visits for advice, comfort and belonging because of her miraculous ability to be empathetic and non-judgmental.  She could always be trusted to be there in people’s darkest hours for solace. She loved without restraint, regardless of the cost to her.

 

Heather was preceded in death by her beloved grandmothers Nona and Mima, her father, her younger sister, Diana (DEE) Francine Ghide Hawkins, and her infant son Nehemiah Menalek Allen. Her mother survives her as well as her son, Tedros Naizghi Smith, 27 years old; her son Mikiays Aboste 24 years old; her daughter Semira Nazenet Allen, 17 years old; her daughter Kyra Jean Frances Ghide Allen, 12 years old; her niece Deanna Annette Nazenet Hawkins; and her cousins Patricia Selby, Joanna Oviedo and Adrian Oviedo. She is also survived by her extended family – Kismet Smith, Geeta Kapur, Denden Girmay, Sofia Girmay, William “Jr.” Smith, David Badgett, and a whole host of family and friends.

 

Visitation will be held Friday, October 1st from 8:30AM to 5:00PM at Pierce-Jefferson Funeral and Cremation Services - Lambeth Chapel, 300 West Wendover Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408.   All who visit the funeral home will be requested to provide and wear your own mask.   Social distancing will be required while in the funeral home, per the family's wishes.

 

A Celebrating of Heather's Life will be held Saturday, October 2nd at 1:00PM in the Chapel of Pierce-Jefferson Funeral and Cremation Services - Lambeth Chapel, with visitation one hour prior to the service.   Immediately following the service a dove release will be held to honor Heather's life.

Friday
1
October

Visitation

8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Friday, October 1, 2021
Pierce-Jefferson Lambeth Chapel
300 W. Wendover Avenue
Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
336-273-3401
Saturday
2
October

Celebration of Life Ceremony

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Pierce-Jefferson Lambeth Chapel
300 W. Wendover Avenue
Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
336-273-3401
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Heather