Obituary for Phyllis Marie Austin
On March 16, 1951, Phyllis Marie Austin was born to the union of John Phillip and Amanda Bond Calvert in St. Louis, MO. Phyllis was the oldest of four children. She was educated in the St. Louis Public School system, attending Cupples Elementary School and Charles Sumner High School, from which she graduated in 1969; yes, she was a proud Sumner Bulldog. From Sumner High School, she went on to further her education by obtaining her diploma in nursing from DePaul Hospital School of Nursing and her BSN from Tarkio College. Some of her finest moments were seeing her son graduate from Tuskegee University, becoming a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, and earning her MBA from Ashford University with her son, making for a powerful mother-son duo.
Growing up, Phyllis enjoyed playing volleyball, singing in the church and high school choirs, and spending time with the neighborhood kids, especially the Pitts family and Elise Hendricks-Hines. While a student at Sumner High School, she was the pianist for the choir, which afforded her the opportunity to play at The Muny Opera.
Growing up she attended Christ Holiness Temple, UHC, under the leadership of Bishop Gearline Smith, where she accepted Christ at an early age. As an adult she joined St. Louis Bible Way Church, volunteering her services, serving as a church administrator, and assisting Bishop Patricia Whitelocke on numerous church projects. While in Houston Phyllis joined Windsor Village United Methodist Church (Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell), where she continued her walk with God.
In 2006, Phyllis moved to Houston, TX to be with her son, but ultimately to be with her grandchildren. Phyllis’ grandchildren were literally her heart beat, and those who knew her learned everything about each one. She supported all four of her precious grandchildren, whether it was by attending school functions, driving them to their athletic activities, or simply proudly bragging on their many accomplishments.
After more than 45 years of full-time service as a registered nurse, with the majority of those years as a nursing administrator, Phyllis retired from the field of nursing. Not being able to stay away from the profession she loved, she worked part time administering flu shots to EMT personnel throughout the Houston area.
On Monday March 18, 2019, Phyllis transitioned peacefully into eternal rest of her Heavenly Father, with her loving and devoted son, Michael, by her side. She was preceded in death by her father, John Phillip Calvert, and her mother, Amanda Bond Calvert. Cherishing her memories are her son, Michael Parks; stepdaughter Demetria Jackson; four grandchildren, Ahmeer, Nia, Sydney, and Gavin; three siblings, Angela, Kenneth (Bettie), Wilma; “Big Sister” Alfretta Williams; several nieces and nephews, and a number of other relatives and close friends.
Services for Mrs. Phyllis Austin will be held on:
Friday, April 5, 2019
6:00 PM – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Omega Omega Service
6:30 PM – Celebration of Life
Omega Center
3900 Goodfellow Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63120
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS PLEASE SEE DONATION OPTIONS BELOW:
Grandchildren College Fund – Zelle App to 832-473-2265
Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation – www.oralee.org
Saint Louis Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Mint Guard Scholarship Fund
PO Box 410844
St. Louis, MO 63141
Make check payable to : DST-SLA
Growing up, Phyllis enjoyed playing volleyball, singing in the church and high school choirs, and spending time with the neighborhood kids, especially the Pitts family and Elise Hendricks-Hines. While a student at Sumner High School, she was the pianist for the choir, which afforded her the opportunity to play at The Muny Opera.
Growing up she attended Christ Holiness Temple, UHC, under the leadership of Bishop Gearline Smith, where she accepted Christ at an early age. As an adult she joined St. Louis Bible Way Church, volunteering her services, serving as a church administrator, and assisting Bishop Patricia Whitelocke on numerous church projects. While in Houston Phyllis joined Windsor Village United Methodist Church (Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell), where she continued her walk with God.
In 2006, Phyllis moved to Houston, TX to be with her son, but ultimately to be with her grandchildren. Phyllis’ grandchildren were literally her heart beat, and those who knew her learned everything about each one. She supported all four of her precious grandchildren, whether it was by attending school functions, driving them to their athletic activities, or simply proudly bragging on their many accomplishments.
After more than 45 years of full-time service as a registered nurse, with the majority of those years as a nursing administrator, Phyllis retired from the field of nursing. Not being able to stay away from the profession she loved, she worked part time administering flu shots to EMT personnel throughout the Houston area.
On Monday March 18, 2019, Phyllis transitioned peacefully into eternal rest of her Heavenly Father, with her loving and devoted son, Michael, by her side. She was preceded in death by her father, John Phillip Calvert, and her mother, Amanda Bond Calvert. Cherishing her memories are her son, Michael Parks; stepdaughter Demetria Jackson; four grandchildren, Ahmeer, Nia, Sydney, and Gavin; three siblings, Angela, Kenneth (Bettie), Wilma; “Big Sister” Alfretta Williams; several nieces and nephews, and a number of other relatives and close friends.
Services for Mrs. Phyllis Austin will be held on:
Friday, April 5, 2019
6:00 PM – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Omega Omega Service
6:30 PM – Celebration of Life
Omega Center
3900 Goodfellow Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63120
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS PLEASE SEE DONATION OPTIONS BELOW:
Grandchildren College Fund – Zelle App to 832-473-2265
Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation – www.oralee.org
Saint Louis Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Mint Guard Scholarship Fund
PO Box 410844
St. Louis, MO 63141
Make check payable to : DST-SLA