Obituary of Allen Wade McNair, Jr.

Allen Wade McNair, Jr. 76, went to be with the Lord on April 10, 2023, in Boston, MA. Allen was born on April 19, 1946 in Hartford, CT, to Allen W. McNair, Sr. and Nina Williams McNair. As a child, Allen was raised in the church, and he joined Peoples Baptist Church while it was under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Richard M. Owens. Allen graduated from Boston Technical High School in 1963 and went on to earn an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wentworth Institute in 1965. He continued his education at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. On March 1, 1968, Allen and his next-door neighbor Melanie Freeman, were married by his childhood pastor, Dr. Owens, in Boston, MA. They had 2 children, Leslie Marie and Allen Wade III. Allen's career choices led him to become the President and CEO of AWM Enterprises, Inc. which won a contract to refurbish the MARTA subway cars for the 1996 Olympics. Allen and his family moved to several states. His professional life afforded him the opportunity to travel all over the world. He has booked over 2 million airline miles. His favorite trip was a three-and-a-half-week stay traveling through Russia in 1995 with the American Center of International Leadership while representing the Department of Justice. Allen and Melanie left Boston in 1972 and returned after 35 years. Peoples Baptist Church became their church home in 2008, under Pastor Wesley A. Roberts. Allen served faithfully as a trustee for several years until God called him home. He was an enthusiastic student of the Bible through Sunday school studies, Men's Fellowship, and Pastor Roberts' Tuesday Night Bible studies. His constant prayer was for each person he met was to help them learn to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. His favorite Bible verse was Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Known as "Big Al" to many, he has made a place in the hearts of all who knew him and will be remembered with love and respect. Allen is preceded in death by his father, Allen W. McNair, Sr., his mother, Nina Coy, and his older sister Alice McNair. Allen is survived by his wife, Melanie McNair of Boston, his son Allen Wade McNair, III (Erika) of Knoxville, TN, his daughter Leslie Vaughn (Glen) of Lithonia, GA, his brothers Gerald L. McNair (Anessa) of Raleigh, NC, and James McNair of Martinsville, VA, his sisters Rochelle Reid of Greenville, SC, and Crystal Murphy (Bennie) of Meriden, CT, his granddaughters Sydney, Tori, and Reagan McNair, niece Stacey Green, his sister-in-law Kim Williams (Winston) and nephew George Roger Freeman III, and a host of other nieces, nephews and friends. Memorial donations can be made in Allen's name to Peoples Baptist Church, P.O. Box 180358, Boston, MA, 02118.