Obituary of Allen Eugene Bannister

Allen Eugene Bannister was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 8, 1961 to the late Olson V., Sr. and Gloria Bannister. Allen lost his battle with brain cancer after being diagnosed in June 2020, and gained his wings to be with his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Allen was raised with his family on West Fayette Street in Baltimore City where his passion for the arts was discovered. Allen was a very impressive, multi-talented young fellow. He would draw pictures and sell them to the neighborhood kids who constantly knocked on the door requesting to purchase drawings. Allen's first big project as an artist was a large sign he created in the year 1977 for the opening of a new company located on Washington Boulevard. Allen's mom and dad marveled over his talents and drove by the area many times just to see the sign. Going forward, Allen's reputation of being a great artist soared allowing him the opportunity to do many projects for neighborhood people and small businesses. Allen was also gifted with the ability to whistle so sweetly. You could hear Allen's sweet whistle before you would see him, which is the reason why his brother, Olson Jr., nicknamed him "Bird Man". The neighborhood kids would get so excited that they would persuade Allen many times to whistle along with doing late night comedy skits. There was one main skit the kids loved, which consisted of Allen dressing up as an old man wearing his dad's pants, with his knees in his shoes and wearing an oversized trench coat with a hat. Allen certainly was entertaining, and the neighborhood kids loved him. Allen graduated from Southwestern High School in 1978. He pursued a solid career as a great tractor trailer driver. Later, Allen accepted a position with the Cloverland Green Spring Dairy Company, which is how he gained the name, "Milk Man." Allen worked for Cloverland until he became ill. Allen accepted Christ at a very early age while attending St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church. Years later, Allen knew God had something tremendous waiting for him, which is when he converted his faith to Christianity. On August 18, 2013, Allen preached his initial sermon at Cornerstone Church of Christ, under the leadership of Pastor Reginald T. Johnson, Jr. Allen's passion was to serve God which he did for many years at an aggressive and exceptional level. Even during his illness, Allen would witness to and pray for patients and staff at the University of Maryland Hospital and Manor Care at Rossville. Before Allen became ill, he had begun ministerial classes at The Church of the Redeemed of the Lord, under the leadership of Bishop Jerome Stokes. It was pretty clear to anyone who knew Allen, "God was first and foremost in his life and nothing else took precedent". Allen never compromised about his faith, he stayed firm to his beliefs. Allen is preceded in death by his sister, Karen D. Bannister, and survived by his two brothers, Olson Velson, Jr., and Kenneth Darnell (Penni); one sister, Wanda Adams (Greg); two nephews, Marqee Brown and Brandon Adams; three nieces, Kelli Bannister, Brionna Adams, and Taylor Bannister; three great-nieces, Samara, America, and Paris; 1 aunt, Odella Talley; 2 great-aunts, Rachel Diggs and Louise Jefferson; a dear devoted friend, Evie Cooper-Bannister, and a HOST of other relatives and friends. "Another link of our family chain is broken And nothing seems the same, But as God calls us one by one The chain will link again." I Love you Al, Wanda