Rose Christian (Christie) Wooten Allen (65) of Whispering Pines passed away at her home on Wednesday, June 9, surrounded by family and friends. She lived a very full life in service to others–as a teacher, librarian, and counselor at area schools and in a private counseling practice in Southern Pines.
Christie was born in Goldsboro and grew up in various locations across eastern NC. Her late father, Reverend Charles Wesley Wooten, and mother Callie served the North Carolina conference of the United Methodist Church. She graduated from Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College in 1978 and moved on to NC State, where she obtained a Masters in English in 1980. There she met her husband of 41 years, Larry. They moved to Moore County where she began a career in the public school system. A life-long learner, she later attended NC Central University where she obtained a Masters in Library Science and served several area schools as a librarian for over a decade. Her final educational venture was to return for a Masters in Counseling at UNC-Pembroke, where she felt she had found her final calling.
Christie served for eight years as a counselor at Elise Middle School in Robbins, and in 2005 she opened her own part-time private practice, Sunrise Counseling Services on Pennsylvania Avenue in Southern Pines. After retiring from the school system, she remained a full-time counselor up until January of this year, when she was diagnosed with liver disease, which she bravely battled.
Christie radiated love to all who met her–students, clients, family members, friends, and stray animals who needed a home. The current inventory of two dogs and two cats is the lowest in years.
She is survived by her husband Larry of the home, her son Lee Wooten Allen of Durham (Tracy), her sister Sue Grissom (Rev. David) of Creedmoor NC and sister Charline Beck (Rev. David) of Westmoore NC, and an extended family of nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins. She was also best friends for 45 years with Cathy McRae of Cameron, whom she considered family.
A celebration of life service is scheduled for Sunday, June 13, at 4 pm, followed by a visitation with family and friends, both at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the NC Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health, (NAMI) at 309 Millbrook Road in Raleigh, 27609.
Online condolences may be left at: www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
