Funeral services for Rev. Bobby Joe Allison, age 74 of the Fair Play Community of Panola County, Texas, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2008 at House of Faith Church with Rev. Kerry Allison and Rev. James Wall officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Jerusalem Cemetery in Fair Play. A wake service will be held from 7-8 p.m. on Thursday at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Allison passed away on Friday night, August 29, 2008 in Carthage, Texas.

Bobby Joe Allison was born on March 12, 1934 in Clayton, Texas to Elijah Allison, Sr. and Bessie Mae Moore Allison. He married Jessie L. Williams on December 30, 1953 in the Pine Hill Community of Panola County. He enjoyed carpentry and entertaining his grandchildren. Over the past 42 years, Rev. Allison served as pastor of seven different churches in the East Texas area. He was currently serving as a minister at New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Longview. Rev. Allison was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, who passed away on November 5, 2007; five brothers; one sister; one son, Bobby D. Allison who passed away in 1997; and one great-grandson.

Rev. Allison is survived by three sons, Darry Allison and wife Joyce of Carthage, Colonel Kenneth Allison and wife Sheria of Los Angeles, and Kerry Allison of Moreno, CA; three daughters, Mae Lewis and husband Robert of Carthage, Charcy Thompson and husband Calvin of Longview, and Patricia Willie and husband Jeffery of Allen, TX; one sister, Florette Reese of Carthage; and twenty-two grandchildren. Numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends also survive Rev. Allison.

Serving as pallbearers are Robert Lewis, Jr., Tyras Allison, Lamiesa Allison, Jeffery Willie, Martin Allison, and Dakota Anthony. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Darry Allison, Colonel Kenneth Allison, Kerry Allison, Robert Lewis, Calvin Thompson, and Jeffery Willie.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Jessie L. Allison Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund, c/o Mrs. Mae Lewis, 115 Partridge Lane, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.