She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” – Proverbs 31:25-26

Juanita Reid Allen, affectionately known to many as "Nita Boo," passed

away peacefully on June 20, 2026, at the age of 84. Born on November 17, 1941, in New Rochelle, NY, to Mary Belle Reid Jones. She was a woman whose warmth and kindness touched the lives of everyone she met. Truly,

to know her was to love her.

Raised in Farmville, VA, by her loving grandparents, Cora and Sam Reid,

Juanita developed a strong foundation of family and community. In her

youth, she could often be found helping run Reid's Place, pumping gas and generously sharing whatever she had with her friends. These early years

instilled in her a deep connection to her roots and a spirit of compassion

that became the hallmark of her family’s legacy.

On June 17, 1967, Juanita married her beloved Robert Allen Sr. They

shared a beautiful and devoted marriage until his passing on December 28, 2006. Together, they built a family filled with cherished memories, living

and raising their children in Orange, NJ, before she eventually returned to

her beloved Farmville during her retirement. Her journey later took her to Ocean Springs, MS, with her daughter Anita, who became her devoted caregiver, before settling in Hampton, VA.

At the core of Juanita’s beautiful life was her deep and abiding love for the

Lord. She perfectly embodied the spirit of Proverbs 31, walking daily in His

grace, and it was this divine grace that guided how she lived, loved, and cared

for those around her. Known for her unwavering spirit and compassion, she

dedicated her life to her family, always putting their needs before her own.

She was a jokester at heart who loved to make others laugh, effortlessly

bringing light into any room. Juanita was known for her "glam"—firmly

believing that when it came to fashion, the shinier the better. She

unapologetically embraced a delightfully ostentatious flair that perfectly

matched her vibrant spirit. When she wasn't enjoying her absolute

favorite meal of a good steak and flats, she indulged in her passion for her

skincare routine, found immense joy in solving puzzles, and let her fiercely

competitive nature shine through in games of Pac-Man, where she simply

had to hold the high score.

Above all, she was a source of great wisdom, and her advice was always

warm, thoughtful, and exactly what you needed to hear. Her captivating

stories and long talks will be profoundly missed, as will her cute, signature way of announcing herself on voicemails with a simple, "This is Mom."

She so loved to talk that there was a playful, unspoken competition among

her kids and grandkids to see who could keep her on the phone the longest.

When those calls finally had to come to an end, Juanita never liked saying

goodbye; instead, she always signed off with a gentle, "Love you more." She

possessed a remarkable ability to find the silver lining in any situation, her

kind words putting everyone at ease.

Juanita’s legacy of faith, love, and strength will be carried on by her

devoted family—or, as she affectionately called them, her babies, her babies'

babies, and her babies' babies' babies. She is survived by her children: Robert Allen Jr. and his wife Theresa, Lenora Allen, Joseph Allen and his wife Francine, Warren Allen, Anita Allen, and Kim Allen. She was a deeply cherished grandmother to Ranese, LaTorri, Joseph Stephen, Kyra, baby Robert, Myisha, Isaiah, Joshua (Kaitlyn), Cameron (Rebecca), Jada, Khalon,

and Major, as well as a proud great-grandmother to Wesley, Julian, and

Vanessa. She is also survived by her sisters, Lucy Frazier, Ernestine Monroe, and Beatrice Reed, and her brother, Rev. Robert Jones (Sybil). Juanita's

memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.