By Suzanne Haugh

ATLANTA—One of the Lord’s “master builders,” Deacon Leon Allain, a trailblazer at his parish and in the permanent diaconate of the archdiocese, died suddenly June 20 due to complications following surgery. He was 75.

Although he had a list of impressive career highlights as an architect, the most important project to Deacon Allain was “building the kingdom of God in all that he did,” said Father Melvin A. Shorter, CP, pastor at St. Paul of the Cross Church where he served.

Born in New Orleans, the third of seven children, Deacon Allain studied architecture at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and then married his wife, Gloria, in 1952.

In 1958 the Allains arrived in Atlanta where Leon Allain eventually started his own architectural firm in 1967. During the next three decades, he built his architectural legacy with such projects as the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College and completion of the school’s entire medical facility. He participated in the joint-venture design of the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport and the Georgia Dome. He recently received the Millennium Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Organization of Minority Architects, Atlanta chapter.

Throughout his career he never lost sight of his higher calling to the church. In 1982 he became one of the first African-American deacons ordained in the archdiocese and told others that three of his proudest moments were baptizing Nicole, Sydney and Sterling, the children of his two daughters, Renee and Diane, and their husbands, Dmitri Stockton and George Turmon. Deacon Allain was the last living African-American deacon from the historic class of 1982 following the death of Deacon Homer Woods in May.

Members of St. Paul of the Cross Church for over 30 years, Deacon Allain and his wife recently received the Trailblazer Award for service in their parish.

Pulling from their 47 years of marriage, together they facilitated marriage preparation classes for engaged couples and contributed their treasure, energy and wealth of talent to the church community in various ministries and in beautifying church grounds. The couple helped to plan the festivities for the parish’s 40th anniversary. Deacon Allain also served on the parish council and finance committee.

When Father Shorter began his homily at the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, June 24, he spoke of the difficulties of being a priest, one of which is burying parishioners.

“Today it is extremely difficult for me because Leon Gregory Allain was not just a parishioner to me. In addition to being a faithful and hard-working disciple of Christ, Leon was my confidant, my advisor, my co-worker, my partner in ministry and prayer and my friend.”

But being sad or “shaking our fist at God” for taking Deacon Allain so suddenly is not how he would have it, Father Shorter said. “The important thing to remember is that we must be ready when our time comes. And I knew Leon and Leon was ready to meet his God.”

He called on those gathered to lean on God. “You see the whole point of faith is that when we are met with this fear of darkness and death, we are not afraid or ashamed to call out, because the whole point of believing is the conviction that there is someone there to answer.”

Deacon Allain was a man “who lived the beatitudes.” Father Shorter, who at one point recalled the image of Deacon Allain praying the rosary while preparing for Mass, then reflected on each of the beatitudes. “How happy are the poor in spirit ... happy the gentle ... happy the peacemakers ... This is what Jesus taught them (in Matthew’s Gospel). And through his life, Leon taught us.”

Father Shorter ended by saying, “The master’s builder has been called home ... Leon, my mentor, my deacon, my friend, you have shown us what the face of God must really be like. Well done! Well done! Good night, we shall see you in the morning.”

Janis Griffin, Steve Dalton and the St. Paul of the Cross adult choir provided the music for the Mass, which preceded interment at Westview Cemetery.

Contributions in Deacon Allain’s name may be made to Catholic Charities, 680 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta 30308-1984; to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home, 760 Washington St., SW, Atlanta 30315; or to the Leon and Gloria Allain Minority Architectural Student Fund at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.