Edwards, Allen Roy

Allen Roy Edwards, affectionately called “Leroy”, was born September 9, 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the only child of the late Frances Morgan Edwards Mack. Until age 9, he was raised in Smock, Pennsylvania and Washington., DC by his aunt and uncle, Susie Morgan Gorham and David Gorham, whom he called “Mom and Dad”, and then he rejoined his natural mother, Frances, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Allen enlisted in the United States Army in July 1943. He married Betty Jane Reed on December 12, 1943 and from this union two children were born: Alfonse and Deborah. Allen and Betty divorced in 1953. Allen retired from Mellon Bank, NA, building maintenance, around 1986. Allen loved music and frequently called himself, “the Music Man”. As a youngster in Pittsburgh., PA he played the drums in a marching band. He met (and was acquainted with) many of the jazz artists that began their music careers in Pittsburgh., PA and those that came to Pittsburgh to perform. Allen departed this life on Friday, July 1, 2011 in Florence, SC, from chronic respiratory problems. He leaves to mourn these children and their families: Alfonse (Barbara) Edwards, Pittsburgh, PA; Deborah Edwards McClain, Florence, SC, and Regina (Rocky) Topeck, Pittsburgh, PA; grandchildren: Kelly Danielle McClain, Baltimore, MD; Tonya Charmaine Culliton, Houston, TX; Asia Tamara Topeck, Pittsburgh, PA; Manderick Edwards and Horace (Rock) Topeck Jr., Pittsburgh, PA; nieces and nephew: Nora Coit and Norvella Brown, Wilmington, DE; Theodore (Joanne) Jamison, Randolph, NJ; cousins: Marian Chapman and Ruth Booth, Dorchester, MA; Rose (Leon) Buskey and Frances Glover-Rice, Florence, SC; David (Camille) Gorham, Washington, DC; Charles (Dolores) Gorham, Suitland, MD, and Robert (Diane) Gorham, Camp Springs, MD; long-time companion, Ethel Jones, Pittsburgh, PA; and a host of other relatives and friends. He will be dearly missed and we will cherish his memory. “Have you ever been to the Poconos?”