Tag Archives: Kay Allenberg Cohen

Kay Allenberg Cohen ’53

Kay Allenberg Cohen passed away peacefully on October 14, 2016. Kay was born in Memphis on March 8, 1935. She was the daughter of Selma and Milton Allenberg. Mr. Allenberg founded Allenberg Cotton Company and sadly passed away in April, 1936. Kay was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Louis Cohen, M.D. in 2012 after 57 years of marriage.

She attended St. Mary’s Episcopal School, East High and graduated from the Williston Northampton School in Massachusetts. She attended the University of Indiana and the University of Memphis.

Kay married the love of her life in 1955. She and Lawrence immediately moved to Tucson, Az. where he was a flight surgeon in the Strategic Air Command. He had served in the Army in WWII.

Upon their return to Memphis, Kay became a Grey Lady at Kennedy Veterans Hospital. She also taught sailing to the Mariner Scout Troop, was a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor for 25 years at three city pools, Handicap, Inc., Merry Acres Day Camp and at summer camps in East Tennessee and Maine. Kay loved and played tennis for many years.

Kay was the first president of the Laurelwood Garden Club. During her lifetime she belonged to the Perennial Garden Club, the Duration Club, the Memphis and Shelby County Medical Auxiliary, the University of Tennessee Faculty Wives Club, the Memphis Symphony League, the Salvation Army, the English Speaking Union, and The Dixon Gardens.

She was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church where she served on the Alter Guild, Opus (old people up to something), the E.C.W., Daughters of the King, the Cursillo Community and was an associate of the Community of St. Mary at Sewanee, Tennessee. She loved her final years living at Trezevant Episcopal Home.

Kay leaves two daughters: Kathryn Austin (Chip) and their two sons, Selby and Webster, and Louise Carruthers (Cage) and their two children Cage Jr. and Mary Lawrence Childs(Matt). Kay’s third child is her precious dog Prince William. She also leaves a number of nieces and nephews and greats.

Kay would like to thank Elizabeth McKenzie for her love and care for the past thirty plus years and more recently her sitters Juanita Sewell, Estella Carter, Beverly Smith Blair, and the great team from Elect Home Care: Laura Johnson, Vearnell Murphy, and Mary Harris.