lit a candle 6h agoMy cousin studied at Morris Brown and used to call Dr. Allen the reason she didn't drop out her first year. Never met him myself but I heard his name so many times growing up it felt like I had. Sydney is a long way from Atlanta but this one still landed.
Their story
Dr. James Freddy Allen, known as Freddy, was the vice president for enrollment and student affairs at Morris Brown College, the historically Black college in Atlanta. He joined the college in January 2022, a few months before it regained its accreditation after a hiatus of about twenty years, and he…
Dr. James Freddy Allen, known as Freddy, was the vice president for enrollment and student affairs at Morris Brown College, the historically Black college in Atlanta. He joined the college in January 2022, a few months before it regained its accreditation after a hiatus of about twenty years, and he played a major part in its comeback. He died on Thursday 29 October 2026, aged 56.
Morris Brown College, founded in 1881, lost its accreditation in the early 2000s and spent the following two decades fighting to survive with only a handful of students. Allen arrived as the college was preparing for its return. As the officer responsible for enrollment and student affairs, he oversaw the recruitment and support of new students, and the college credits him with helping grow its enrollment from about 20 students to nearly 600.
Beyond the numbers, he was known on campus for his closeness to students. The college said he kept an open door and regularly walked around the campus to check in on students. Morris Brown president Dr. Kevin James called his passing "an incredibly difficult loss, both personally and professionally."
Allen earned degrees from Argosy University and Regent University. He served on the board of trustees of Turner Theological Center and was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. People who knew him earlier in his life remembered him as a hard worker who held down long hours while studying for his advanced degrees.
Morris Brown College announced his death, and it was reported by 11Alive in Atlanta on 31 October 2026. The college did not release details about the circumstances of his death. His arrangements were entrusted to Mack's Funeral Home in Elberton, Georgia, which said details would be announced when complete. The college said his contributions shaped the lives of countless students.
Biography adapted from News reports (11Alive, Morris Brown College) and the Mack's Funeral Home obituary.
In their own words
“Dr. Allen's passing is an incredibly difficult loss, both personally and professionally.”
Morris Brown College president Dr. Kevin James, October 2026
Photos
1Dr. James Freddy Allen
by People Forever
That's exactly how he was, people kept going because of him.