Allie H. Freeman to Be Recognized

Allie H. Freeman

A program celebrating 90 years with Allie H. Freeman is planned for Saturday, April 20th, 7 p.m., at Buffalo State University, Student Union Social Hall.

Allie Freeman, a Clinical Social Worker, was born and reared in North Carolina. Her interest in social work started around 10 years of age. Her dad was a minister, and her mom was his spiritual partner. This was evident in the constant parade of friends and kin that were a part of our daily lives. They could eat, sleep, or stay a while in our home.

Allie completed her high School education in Wilkesboro N.C. at Lincoln Heights high school, in 1951, BA at Clark Atlanta University in 1955, and the Masters in Psychiatric Social Work at the same school in 1957. My internship was in Hudson, N.Y. We could not intern in the south because of segregation.

The career that was phenomenal started in N.C. where I worked with Migrant Workers, the goal was to provide good day care for the children.

From there, she worked with the city of New York with children who were placed in residential care until parents were able to provide a home.

Through the years, she worked in Family Service ,N.J., Child Welfare, Washington, D.C. , The University of Buffalo ,Medical School as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Dept of Psychiatry, clinician in UB ‘s Mental Health Clinic 1970-1984, Consultant for Women and Minority Medical and Dental Students ,Veterans Administration, Vietnam Vet Center, Fayetteville, N.C., Brookhaven Hospital Psychiatry Clinic, Social Work Field Instructor, Adelphi University Long Island, N.Y., Kaleida Health School Heath Base Program at Bennett High School ,Buffalo, N.Y.

After several attempts at retirement, it finally happened in 2011. My life has been well lived; I feel. I fell in love with my husband at age 18. We met in Clark Atlanta University library. We were married 35 years and 6 months. He was the love of my life, and I was his.

I might add that because of my sister Helen, I became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on April 10, 1954. Though she was not a Delta, she loved having them in her dorm room at Shaw University. Helen, like our parents, was an amazing inspiration to others. She made others feel comfortable and happy with her humor.

All I can say is I love being of service to humanity. That began with my parents. I have three wonderful, loving, caring sons and six grandchildren and three daughters in love. The grandchildren call me Grammy or Gram. Mile’s, a grandson who went to heaven started calling me gram. Keith, my oldest, started with grammy when he was three years old.