Jessie Austin

Services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 29, at Bethel Baptist Church for Jessie Lee Austin of Phoenix, Arizona. Mrs. Austin, 87, died Friday, December 19, 2008 in Phoenix. Rev. Thomas Ford will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Daniel Hudson, Roy Lawson, Raymond Coulter, Jimmy Taylor, Clarence Sentell, Roosevelt Harvey, and Elmel Thompson. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerell Robinson, Paul Robinson, Maurice Mims, Robin Austin, Rodney Austin, Corey McGriff, Jarvis Jackson, Anthony Simpson, Damon Austin, and Joshua Huston. Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary Sunday beginning at 2:00 p.m. Mrs. Austin was born October 10, 1921 in Wetumpka, Alabama; the daughter of William Austin, Sr. and Rosie Austin. She came to Artesia in 1946. She gave her life to Christ at an early age. She was a faithful member of Bethel Baptist Church working in the Missionary Society. She began working at the Steak House Caf and from there she progressed on. Her final and last job was at the First National Bank of Artesia. Jessie enjoyed cooking, gardening, shopping, and loved to travel. Jessie loved her children immensely and no words can describe her love for her grandchildren. Jessie was preceded in death by her parents William, Sr. and Rosie Austin; sister Johnnie Mae Robinson; brothers F.J. Austin and Cecil Austin; daughters Charlene Cunningham and Jean Ellen James; and a son Bobby Lee Austin. Survivors include her children Mary Ethel Swindle, McKinley Cunningham and wife Lillie, Sherman Cunningham, Jesselene Jackson and husband Charles, Linda Cunningham, Carolyn Cunningham-Malloy, and Charlotte Austin; sisters Annie Dilworth, Anna Francis Austin, and Elizabeth Roberts; brother William Austin, Jr.; a host of grandchildren and great- grandchildren; nephews; nieces; family and friends that will miss her dearly.