Hometown Clinton - Winter 2017

ig legacy to pass on to their children
and grandchildren. “I want them to
remember our commitment to each
other under all circumstances,” said
Billy.
In 1969, shortly after the birth of
their first son, Pat started experiencing
symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Then,
Pat was formally diagnosed in 1972
when she was 25. It was soon after
their second son was born when she
had a major attack requiring steroid
infusion treatments. “It was a time to
come together. Our faith anchored us
from the beginning of when she was
diagnosed,” said Billy. “There were
times when it was obviously difficult;
however the Lord had provided
for every need along the way. Even
including Pat’s recent cervical spinal
fusion surgery in March of this year.”
Pat’s case was initially a form
of relaxing-remitting MS. Pat was
running 5K and 10K races in the early
1980s. In the mid 1980s, she began to
experience more episodes requiring
infusion therapy. In the mid 1990s, Pat’s
case moved to a progressive stage of
MS with her needing a service dog—a
golden retriever named Ellie Mae. She
received Ellie Mae in 2001 to aid her
with balance when she walked. Then,
in 2008, her case progressed where she
has had to rely on a motorized power
chair to get around. “Our vehicle has
been customized to transport her power
chair. The Lord’s providence has been
evident in recent years for the resources
to do this,” said Billy.
Eight years ago, Pat had to begin
using a power chair because she could
not walk without difficulty. On March
28, 2017; Pat had cervical spinal fusion
surgery. “It was one of the most trying
times in our marriage,” said Billy. Pat
takes one infusion a month which has
stopped the progression. Ten years ago,
her neurologist put her on a medication
to help slow the progression.
Billy has always been very active.
He retired in 2013 after a 42-year
career in healthcare administration.
He jumped right in to another fulltime
job after retirement working as
the church’s administrator at Morrison
Heights Baptist Church. He also has a
counseling portion of his job which he
really enjoys. He conducts counseling
sessions with parents, men, couples and
does team counseling.
Pat’s career began at various
banks in Jackson and continued in
Hattiesburg. Then her career evolved
into becoming a homemaker. In the
1990s, she had a dream to have a bed
and breakfast. Billy designed it and built
it new to look old. Pat ran the bed and
breakfast. It had 11 guest beds. She had
the bed and breakfast from 1997-2004.
The name of the bed and breakfast was
Dunhopen.
They named it “Dunhopen”
because after construction, Pat was
“done hoping” for her bed and
breakfast. “The word ‘Dunhopen’ was
coined in memory of her grandfather
who, after building his home in New
Jersey, remarked that he was “done
hoping” for his new house,” explained
Billy. “We had many interesting guests,”
said Pat. “I enjoyed hearing the various
stories and interacting with our guests
about what brought them our way. One
guest actually lived in Long Branch,
New Jersey, in the area where I grew
up. Another guest was Supreme Court
Justice Antonin Scalia, who came to
Hattiesburg to speak at the University
of Southern Mississippi. Larnelle
Harris, who was invited to sing at our
church, Temple Baptist Church, was
also a guest.”
“One of the first couples that
held their wedding reception at
Dunhopen returned for their first
anniversary weekend as our guests,”
said Pat. Pat enjoyed meeting the
guests that came from all over the
United States and other countries,
too. The most challenging aspect for
her was balancing time between the
business side of things and interacting
meaningfully with their guests. When
the season came to close Dunhopen,
the Allens sold it to Forest General
Hospital to be used as an extension of
Pine Grove, their residential addiction
treatment program.
The Allens lived in Jackson from
1966-1984, Hattiesburg from 1984-
2013 and have lived in Clinton since
2014. The Allen’s enjoy living in
Clinton close to Billy’s mother as well
as their daughter Carly and three
grandchildren. Billy has siblings and
lots of family in the Jackson area. They
also enjoy playing table games such
as Mexican Train and Rummikub
together with friends.
The Allens have embraced Clinton
as their home during their “retirement
years” and enjoy living here close to
family. Billy and Pat Allen are thankful
to call each other best friends after 51
years of marriage. •
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10 • Winter 2017 Hometown Clinton • 11