Jaylen Malik Allen was born June 13, 1999 at NW Texas Hospital in Amarillo, Texas to Adreano Montrell Allen and Stacie La Kindria Verdine. He and his family moved to Allen, Texas when he was three years old and he attended school in the Allen Independent School District from Kindergarten until he graduated in 2017. Jaylen was always a model student and an accomplished athlete during his tenure at Allen ISD; he also contributed to his community through community service initiatives, such as the City of Allen’s Teen Court and Clean Up Project. Jaylen was a member of the choir at Boyd Elementary, the band and the National Junior Honor Society at Ereckson Middle School, and competed in both the Football and Track & Field programs at Allen High School. However, his main focus was always Track & Field. He showed an outstanding love for running at a very young age, even before entering school.
Jaylen attended Team Quest Track Club in high school under the guidance of Coach Donnell Hobbs. Coach Hobbs pushed Jaylen to qualify for a full sports scholarship, which he eventually earned to attend Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Jaylen entered Texas State University in the fall of 2017 with high hopes and aspirations of living out his dream. He loved the campus life and his new-found independence. He continued to thrive both academically and athletically, winning the Sunbelt Men’s Outdoor Championship in 2019 with fellow athletes. Jaylen’s teammates and coaches, as well as educators and friends admired him. He was a likeable person who most people enjoyed being around and would describe as a humble spirit who listened more than he did talk.
Once Jaylen became a member of the Texas State University Track & Field team, he was so proud of his position and very rarely would you see Jaylen without any attire sporting the Bobcats symbol. He always represented his team and talked about his coaches and teammates with adoration, especially Coaches Jody Stewart (Head Coach) and Ray Williams. Jaylen’s parents and extended family members were equally proud of him, jumping at every opportunity to show off his latest accomplishments to friends, colleagues, and on social media. Jaylen met the love of his life, Chelsie Decoud during his freshman year at Texas State and was planning a life together with her post-graduation. He loved and admired her unconditionally and was never afraid to show that love in the presence of anyone.
Jaylen is survived by his parents, Adreano (Tasha) and Stacie; his siblings, Destiny Verdine, Joshua Allen, Jalen Allen, and Anaya Allen; his grandparents, Jerry and Phyllis Nickerson; one niece, Stella Gatonye; his girlfriend, Chelsie Decoud; his uncles, John Harvey, Rodney Allen, and Patrick Hill; his aunts, Katrice Sally (Don), Patrice Renfrow (Terry), Tyonda Hill-Deaver (Sherilyn), Natria Allen, Ebony Harvey, and Essence Harvey. Also, a host of other cousins, teammates, coaches, and educators.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Jaylen’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/jaylen-malik-allen. After the service, the recorded live stream will be available for viewing at the same link location. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.