Cover photo for Mr. William  H. Austin's Obituary
Mr. William  H. Austin Profile Photo

Mr. William H. Austin

July 7, 1943 — September 12, 2020

Mr. William H. Austin

Age: 77
Northport Funeral & Cremation Service family extends our warmest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. William H Austin.

William H. (Billy) Austin died on September 12, 2020, age 77. A Montgomery, Alabama native, he was ordained to the ministry by the Capitol Heights Baptist Church at age 18, attended Lee High School, Samford University, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Billy invested 59 years in service to the Lord, pastoring churches, operating retirement homes for the aged, twice served as President of SBAMA (Southern Baptist Association of Ministers to the Aging), 27 years as Registration Secretary of The Alabama Baptist State Convention, seven years as a board member of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and one year on the executive committee of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, and over two decades as President of the Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers. After retiring, he founded and established the West Alabama New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to train ministers, was approved by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as a revitalization and church plant minister, established a Hispanic Mission and ESL (English as a Second Language) program for the mission and surrounding community. For the last three years of his life, he served as interim Director of Missions of the Tuscaloosa County Baptist Association. In a sense, he worked till he died, serving the Lord faithfully. He was preceded in death by his parents, Columbus Harris Austin and Frances Elizabeth Elliott Austin and his brother James Edward Austin. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda Faye Headley Austin, his son, Mark Elliott Austin and wife Melanie Kay Davis Austin, granddaughter Madison Shelby Austin, his sister Jo Ann Austin Packard and husband Frank Lawrence Packard, and his brother Terry Lee Austin and wife Joanna Miranda Steward Austin along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will place you over many things. Enter now into the joyous presence of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:23)

A private cemetery service will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at 9:30 am, followed by a public celebration of life at Northport Baptist Church at 11:00 am. John Jenkins will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to mission programs of the Northport Baptist Church (1004 Main Avenue, Northport, Alabama 35476). In following CDC guidelines, we are asking attendees to please wear a mask throughout the service, observe social distancing of 6 feet, and avoid shaking hands. There will be no receiving line and no food. The service will be streamed on Youtube and Facebook at 11 am from Northport Baptist Church.

Compassionate, sympathetic, and professional service has been entrusted to the hands and care of the Northport Funeral & Cremation Service Professional Team.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic and the mandated regulations with the state of AL, all attendees of services and visitations are required to wear a mask and attempt to maintain 6ft social distancing.

Age: 77
Northport Funeral & Cremation Service family extends our warmest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the family of Mr. William H Austin.

William H. (Billy) Austin died on September 12, 2020, age 77. A Montgomery, Alabama native, he was ordained to the ministry by the Capitol Heights Baptist Church at age 18, attended Lee High School, Samford University, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Billy invested 59 years in service to the Lord, pastoring churches, operating retirement homes for the aged, twice served as President of SBAMA (Southern Baptist Association of Ministers to the Aging), 27 years as Registration Secretary of The Alabama Baptist State Convention, seven years as a board member of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and one year on the executive committee of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, and over two decades as President of the Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers. After retiring, he founded and established the West Alabama New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to train ministers, was approved by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as a revitalization and church plant minister, established a Hispanic Mission and ESL (English as a Second Language) program for the mission and surrounding community. For the last three years of his life, he served as interim Director of Missions of the Tuscaloosa County Baptist Association. In a sense, he worked till he died, serving the Lord faithfully. He was preceded in death by his parents, Columbus Harris Austin and Frances Elizabeth Elliott Austin and his brother James Edward Austin. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda Faye Headley Austin, his son, Mark Elliott Austin and wife Melanie Kay Davis Austin, granddaughter Madison Shelby Austin, his sister Jo Ann Austin Packard and husband Frank Lawrence Packard, and his brother Terry Lee Austin and wife Joanna Miranda Steward Austin along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will place you over many things. Enter now into the joyous presence of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:23)

A private cemetery service will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at 9:30 am, followed by a public celebration of life at Northport Baptist Church at 11:00 am. John Jenkins will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to mission programs of the Northport Baptist Church (1004 Main Avenue, Northport, Alabama 35476). In following CDC guidelines, we are asking attendees to please wear a mask throughout the service, observe social distancing of 6 feet, and avoid shaking hands. There will be no receiving line and no food. The service will be streamed on Youtube and Facebook at 11 am from Northport Baptist Church.

Compassionate, sympathetic, and professional service has been entrusted to the hands and care of the Northport Funeral & Cremation Service Professional Team.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic and the mandated regulations with the state of AL, all attendees of services and visitations are required to wear a mask and attempt to maintain 6ft social distancing.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mr. William H. Austin, please visit our flower store.

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