C.L. Austin M.D.

C. L. Austin, M.D.

Hattiesburg

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 24th, at 9:30 am at Main Street United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg, MS, with funeral services at 11:00 am and burial to follow at Roseland Cemetary for Dr. C. L. Austin, M.D., age 95, of Hattiesburg, who passed away at his home on February 20th, 2014.

A native of Montgomery County, Dr. Austin was born on January 4th, 1919 in Winona, MS. He attended the University of Mississippi and then went on to Medical School at Jefferson College in Philadelphia.

Growing up as one of eleven children Dr. Austin was torn between becoming a minister or a doctor. He briefly followed his mother's footsteps teaching high school Biology in Lexington, MS. Ultimately he decided he could help more people by becoming a physician. He moved to Hattiesburg in 1947 to practice medicine and shared an office with his father in law, Dr. C. C. Hightower, Sr. He opened his own practice in the early 1950's and later opened Medical Plaza where he lovingly cared for his patients until 1991.

He loved being out on the open sea riding the waves and spent every weekend possible at his camp on the coast until he moved there permanently in the early 90's.

Anyone who knew Dr. Austin knew of his heart to help those who struggled with addiction. Upon retiring, he served on the board of directors at the Home of Grace in Vancleave, MS, and helped develop the first on-campus volunteer medical clinic there, volunteering as a physician for 15 years. Even at the age of 94 he was driving 85 miles one way, once a week, to the Home of Grace for his Monday shift at the clinic.

Along with a passion to help those struggling with addiction was a passion to prevent addicton by educating young people. He invented and funded the DAAPE (Drug and Alcohol Awareness Prevention Education) mobile which is a mobile art exhibit in a converted school bus that fully illustrates the devastating effects of addiction and has been viewed by hundreds of students across the Gulf Coast region.

Dr. Austin is survived by his wife of 23 years, Merry Lowry Austin of Hattiesburg; son Richard Austin of Hattiesburg, stepson Dr. Michael Lowry (Charlotte) of Overland Park, KS, stepdaughters Deborah Lowry Rice (Randy) of Hattiesburg, Merry Lynn Donner (Steve) of Van Nuys, CA, and Lisa Lowry Howell (Jimmy) of Hattiesburg, MS, four grandchildren, Christie Austin Christenson of St. Petersburg, FL., Leigh Ann Hightower Cannon of Tampa, FL., Shelley Paige Austin and Laurie Austin Kittrell both of Hattiesburg. And 13 grandchildren from his marriage to Merry Austin, Haley Rice Wachdorf of San Antonio, TX, Aaron Randall Rice of Jackson, MS, Charles Ryan Rice of Austin, TX, Hannah Rice Meigs of Nashville, TN, Audrey Rice Milam of Birmingham, AL, Shelley Howell Wood, Lauren Ashley Howell, Lindsay Michelle Howell, and Courtney Nicole Howell of Hattiesburg, MS, Matthew Ian Lowry of Oxford, MS, Adrain Michelle Lowry of Hattiesburg, MS, Kristin Brown Lanz of Houston, TX, and Caroline Brown Jones of Baltimore, MD and 15 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther Barksdale Austin and Cora Claudine Austin, his first wife of 47 years, Elizabeth (Libba) Hightower Austin, and his son Larry Austin.

He was truly an extraordinary man who deeply loved his family and spent his life serving humanity and The Lord. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The family requests that memorials be made to: Home of Grace, Donor Services, PO Box 5009, Vancleave, MS 39565 (Include the memo "Donation").