John Gettys Allen

John Gettys Allen, 87, of Pensacola, Florida, passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Gettys was born in Mooresboro, North Carolina, in 1937 to John and Alice Allen. His parents instilled in their six children a strong work ethic and a deep, abiding faith in God. They lived a simple life on a small farm, and music was central to the family’s entertainment. Gettys and his three brothers learned to play stringed instruments at an early age and hosted two popular local radio shows where they played and sang bluegrass and gospel music. Gettys attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he studied Humanities and Spanish. Between his junior and senior year, Gettys served in the U.S. Army in Intelligence and was stationed in Berlin from 1958-1961. He was asked to direct a small choir in Berlin, and he developed a real love for choral conducting from that experience. After finishing his college education, he worked for a year in transportation and then moved to Pensacola, Florida, where he became the transportation director and driver's education instructor for Pensacola Christian School in 1964. It was in Pensacola that he met the love of his life, Lois. They married and had a daughter, Kimberly, a few years later. After serving as choral director for several churches in Pensacola, Gettys was asked to become the choral director of the newly formed Campus Church in 1974. He received a master's degree in choral conducting from PCC and continued to faithfully serve in this position for more than four decades, inspiring thousands of musicians to develop and use their talents for God. His music ministry extended far beyond the church walls through conferences, choir programs, weekly Rejoice in the Lord television, and as choral conductor at the Azalea Trace Retirement Community. In 2019, Gettys received an honorary doctorate from PCC. Gettys’s charismatic personality, optimism, sense of humor, and warmth endeared him to friends and to anyone who came in contact with him. He enjoyed fishing, treasure hunting at the beach, road trips with friends, and spending time with his family. Gettys was preceded in death by his wife Lois. He is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Case, her husband, Chip, and their daughter, Emma, who was his "favorite" granddaughter. He is also survived by two brothers: Flay Allen, and Alton Allen (Shay) of Greenville, South Carolina, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 15, at 2 PM Central in the Dale Horton Auditorium on the campus of Pensacola Christian College. Visitation will begin at 1 PM. Dr. Jeff Redlin will officiate the service. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association (heart.org) or Rejoice in the Lord (RejoiceTV.org), a ministry of Pensacola Christian College. Faith Chapel Funeral Home South, 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, is entrusted with arrangements. You may express condolences online at www.fcfhs.com.

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John Gettys Allen

May 14, 1937 - March 8, 2025