Vivian Ayers Allen, mother of Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen, passes at 102

Vivian Ayers Allen, mother of Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen, passes at 102

Vivian Elizabeth Ayers Allen, the Pulitzer Prize–nominated poet, cultural activist, and mother of beloved Black cultural icons Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad, has died at the age of 102.

Vivian Ayers Allen, Pulitzer-Nominated Poet and ‘Hidden Figure’ Honored for Apollo 11, Dies at 102

CHESTER, S.C. — Vivian Ayers Allen—a Pulitzer Prize–nominated poet, cultural activist, educator, and a “Hidden Figure” celebrated for contributions connected to the Apollo 11 era—has passed away at 102. She died on August 18, 2025, closing a century-spanning life that bridged arts, education, HBCU heritage, and the early space age. A life shaped by HBCU […] The post Vivian Ayers Allen, Pulitzer-Nominated Poet and ‘Hidden Figure’ Honored for Apol…