Mother Elizabeth Austin, bom the sth Child of Sarah and Leon Thomas Montgomery Srinler
ington, Mississippi on July 6, 1942. Also known to some family and friends as Eliza, she enjoyed
singing with her sisters the Montgomery Singers, eating good food and beautifying hersell She
accepted the Lord early in her life and traveled with her sisters throughout Mississippi singing the
Gospel
she at-
Growing up in Mississippi. Elizabeth attended multiple schools graduating with Honors from Thu
la High School in Tchula, Mississippi. She would move to Chicago in 1962 where she met Cornelius
Austin, they would marry in 1965. To this union four children were born, Larry, Ronnie, Raymond
and Lisa.
After moving to Chicago, she obtained a job and eventually served as a store manager for Pekin's
Cleaners, later Bell's Cleaners, on 18th and Pulaski. While working at Bell's, for 20+ years,
tended and graduated from Catherine College as a Legal Secretary with Honors. She actually didn't
work in the legal Geld as she was called to be a help to others and entered the medical field as an
administrative assistant. She worked for Home Health Plus until a decline in her health led to an
early retirement
Because she loved the Lord, she waisted no time finding a church home, joining the Holy Trinity
M.B. Church of Chicago. During her 30+ years of dedicated fellowship with Holy Trinity, she served
under Rev. Matthew Pettis Sr., Rev. Matthew Pettis Jr., and Apostle Steven L. Pettis Sr.
Elizabeth's passion for music ministry led her to join the choir at Holy Trinity, there she served as
the President of the Gospel Choir for several years. She worked diligently in the choir and helped to
raise monies to purchase the church an organ. Elizabeth also served on the missionary board within
Holy Trinity for several years. She loved quartet music, favoring Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's,
The Canton Spirituals, The William's Brothers, The Mighty Clouds of Joy and The Jackson Souther-
naires to name a few.
She was preceded in death by parents Leon & Sarah Montgomery, her husband of 28 years, Cornelius
Austin, two grandsons, David Johnson and Larry Austin Ir., siblings, LT Montgomery Ir., Leebirda
Harper, Derine Washington, Otha Lee (Peewee)Montgomery, Broomy Montgomery, Dorthy Mont-
gomety and lesse Mae Montgomery.