OBITUARY

James Arlie Austin, age 79, of Sulligent, AL, passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at DCH in Tuscaloosa, AL.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 11:00am from the Otts Funeral Home Chapel with graveside services and burial to follow in the Gilmer Addition of Sulligent City Cemetery.  Pastor Kelly Williams to officiate.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home prior to the funeral service from 9:30am until 11:00am.

Pallbearers: Bryan Humber, Braxton Humber, Mike Edgeworth, Donald Flynn, Parker Holliman, Tommy Clark, Bryan Rogers and Anthony Sanderson

James was born on March 19, 1943 in Lamar County, Alabama to the late William Albert Austin and the late Lena Vernor Prothro Austin.  He was a 1961 graduate of Sulligent High School where he was very involved in the FFA receiving an award of 700 peach trees that the family sold and enjoyed peaches for many years. James was a farmer with his family for several years growing cotton and corn, always lending a hand to help the employees gather the crop until the family later purchased the first cotton picker in the Sulligent area.  The family also ran a shrimp boat from Fly Creek in Fairhope, AL for several years where they harvested some great shrimp.

James married his high school sweetheart, Ramona Flynn, on April 27, 1963 and from this union three children were born, 2 sons, Mitchell and Wesley and a daughter, Shelly.  James had a love for flying and became a pilot at a young age even when Crews had a drag strip. He received his flight training with the ROTC Flight Program in Tuscaloosa, AL and became an airplane pilot.  James began a career with the railroad at AT&N, which changed names to Frisco then finally to Burlington Northern which he retired after becoming a Locomotive Engineer and Division Train Master.  He was also a devoted pastor for over 24 years serving Amory, MS Church of God of Prophecy and Church of God of Prophecy in Robertsdale, AL.  He truly cherished his family and enjoyed getting outdoors whenever he could to go flying, fishing, camping, or hunting.  Some of his favorite pastimes were coon hunting, net and basket fishing in the Buttahatchee River, spending as much time on the water as he could and getting the chance to teach several of his family to water ski.  He was a bright light whenever he entered the room, always the life of the party and he will be forever cherished and missed.

Survived By:

Loving Wife of 60 yrs: Ramona Austin, Sulligent, AL

Sons: Mitch Austin (Traci), Sulligent, AL

Wesley Austin , Sulligent, AL

Daughter: Shelly Humber (Jason), Amory, MS

Sister: Dorothy Edgeworth (Leamon), Amory, MS

Grandchildren: Jade Austin, Janna Austin,

Bryan Humber , Kaylie Humber,

Angel Lena Humber, Braxton Humber

Great Grandchildren: Hudson Kase Clark,

Holden Kash Clark, Kohen James Holliman,

and Beau Parker Holliman

Preceded In Death By:

Father: William Albert Austin

Mother: Lena Vernor Prothro Austin

Niece: Amy Dawn Flynn

Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family at: www.ottsfuneralhome.net

Otts Funeral Home

Sulligent, AL, Directing