Jesse “JL” Lee Allen, Jr., 80, of Coward, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday night, December 10, 2025, in the McLeod Regional Medical Center. JL was born in Timmonsville, SC, a son of the late Jesse Lee Allen, Sr. and Ruby Lee Hill Allen. He served his country in the US Army and retired from Industrial Machine and Fabrication with thirty years of service. He was a member of St. Paul Church of Coward. JL loved going fast, from having his pilot’s license and flying his plane to lining up side by side on the dragstrip with his drag car. He was a jack of all trades, from being a machinist, wood worker, mechanic, tree-trimming and several other trades that he excelled at.

He is preceded in death in addition to his parents by an infant son, Joseph Lee Allen, a brother, Henry Donald “Donnie” Allen, a sister, Emily Jean Floyd (Ike), brothers-in-law, James Wilson Carraway and Carl Randolph Carraway.

Surviving are his loving wife of 53 years, Gladys Marie Carraway Allen, a son, Gary DeWayne Allen, a daughter, Lisa (Shaun) Smith, three grandchildren, Angela Smith, Shaun Smith, Jr. (Kassidy) and Mason Smith, a great-grandson, Briar Allen Smith, three nephews, Julian Allen Buie (Letha), Henry Michael Buie (Annette) and Donald Scott Allen, brothers-in-law, Billy Carraway and Steve Carraway, sisters-in-law, Betty Allen, Shirley Carraway and Jeanette Carraway, and a number of great nieces and nephews and cousins.

A church led memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at St Paul Church of Coward, 159 E. St. Paul Road, Coward, SC 29530. The family will receive friends immediately following the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Church of Coward, PO Box 26, Coward, SC 29530.