Mrs. Martha Lucile Watkins Austin

Rites Wednesday For Mrs. Austin, Civic Leader
Mrs. Lucile Watkins Austin, one of Jackson's most widely known and greatly beloved women, died Monday morning, February 7th, in the intensive care unit of Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, where she was carried January 29th following a heart attack at her McDonough Road home on January 20th. Mrs. Austin was a patient at Sylvan Grove Hospital from the time of her attack until her transfer to Atlanta on the 29th.
The prominent community leader was stricken with a heart seizure Thursday morning, January 20th, and shortly afternoon on that date was admitted to Sylvan Grove Hospital. A bronchial condition and emphysema aggravated her illness. Though she rallied slightly, her condition most of the time at Sylvan Grove Hospital and Piedmont was termed critical. She succumbed Monday at Piedmont to a cardiac arrest.
Mrs. Austin was born Lucile Watkins on February 28th, 1890 in Minden, Texas, the daughter of Mrs. Delia Wright Watkins and Mr. George Isham Watkins. Her parents made their home in Butts County for a number of years where they were widely known and highly esteemed.
Mrs. Austin was the widow of Mr. S. L. Austin of Texas who died February 2nd, 1947.
Graduating with honors with a B.A. degree from Texas State University for Women in Denton, Mrs. Austin received a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in New York City. A most able and competent teacher, she devoted a great portion of her life to the teaching profession, having taught in Paris High School, Paris, Texas; Texas State College for Teachers, Commerce, Texas; and Texas State University for Women In Denton. After moving to Atlanta with her husband, Mrs. Austin taught for a number of years at Girls High School in Atlanta.
Upon the death of her parents, Mrs. Austin, together with her sisters, Miss Myrtis Delia Watkins and Miss Georgie Watkins, maintained the family homeplace at Indian Springs until 1961 when the three sisters moved into their handsome and beautifully furnished home on McDonough Road.
Becoming quickly involved in community activities, Mrs. Austin was a member of the Jackson Business & Professional Women's Club, William McIntosh Chapter, Daughters of The American Revolution, having served as secretary; a member of the Mimosa Garden Club, the Sylvan Grove Hospital Auxiliary, the American Association of University Women, the Ikeban International Flower Club, a Minute Woman of the Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, and on the Board of Directors of the Jackson Club House, serving on the House Committee.
Mrs. Austin was a devoted and most faithful member of the Jackson Presbyterian Church where she served as an Elder. She was a past president and current treasurer of the Jackson Presbyterian Women of the Church.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at three o'clock from the Jackson Presbyterian Church with the pastor, Rev. David R. Black, officiating. Her body lay in state at the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. Interment was in Jackson City Cemetery in the family plot with Haisten Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Austin is survived by two brothers, R. Wright Watkins of Jackson and Ben E. Watkins of EI Paso, Texas; two sisters, Myrtis Delia Watkins and Georgie Watkins, of Jackson; brother-in-law, Dr. Hugh C. Huckett of Riverhead, Long Island, New York; two nephews, Richard W. Watkins, Jr. of Jackson and Robert Bryans Watkins of Marietta; seven great nieces and two great nephews.
Pallbearers, all members of the Presbyterian Church with most officers or former officers, were Maurice Carmichael, Lovett Fletcher, Rogers Starr, Sr., John W. Schroeder, Jr., Vincent S. Jones, and Doyle Jones, Jr.
Members of several organizations to which Mrs. Austin belonged, as well as private nurses who cared for Mrs. Austin during her illness in Sylvan Grove Hospital, sat in groups in reserved sections of the church.
Members of the family requested that in lieu of flowers contributions be made in the memory of Mrs. Austin to the Memorial Fund, Sylvan Grove Hospital Auxiliary.

(Jackson Progress Argus - 10 Feb 1972)

Submitted by V. S. Harrison