Shirley Overcash Allen

Mrs. Shirley Ann Overcash Allen, 87, of Durham, passed away peacefully at Duke Regional Hospital on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Shirley was born on March 25, 1939, to the late Charles Walter and Lina Brewer Overcash, the latter to whom she credited her considerable skill in the kitchen. She grew up in Durham surrounded by friends and family, with whom she shared romps in the Bethesda woods (where she swore she would own a house one day – and did!), trips to Bear Creek and Carolina Beach, games of softball, and laps around the roller rink. It was while skating that she began dating her late husband of 64 years, Oscar Allen. Oscar and Shirley welcomed their daughter, Yvetta, shortly after becoming newlyweds.

While Shirley was an excellent cook, she also made her mark as a career woman, working for companies such as Burroughs Wellcome, GlaxoSmithKline, and the Environmental Protection Agency, where she eventually retired at age 75.

Shirley will be remembered for her generosity, her faith (Oscar and Shirley were longtime members of Bethesda Baptist Church in Durham), and her genuine care for others. She had a soft spot for animals – both pets and otherwise – and a good western movie or show. And ice cream – she loved ice cream.

In addition to her parents and husband, Shirley is preceded in death by her sister, Doris Polson; her brothers: Bobby, David, and Cecil Overcash; her half-brothers: Chester, Thomas, and Luther Overcash, and Charlie and Howard Brewer; and her half-sisters: Blanch Jones, Novella Allison, and Ruby Sutton.

Shirley is survived by her pride and joy – her daughter, Yvetta Smith; Yvetta’s husband, Jock Smith; her grandson, Jared Smith; her granddaughter, Hannah Hunt; and Hannah’s husband, Michael Hunt; all of Durham.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Hugh O’Shields and Reverend Jonathan Barbee officiating in the Hudson Chapel. No visitation will be held.

Donations in Mrs. Allen’s memory can be made to Duke Homecare and Hospice, Gideons International, or Bethesda Baptist Church.