WILLIE D. AUSTIN

We regret to announce the passing of Mrs. Willie Dee Austin, age 81, of Jakin, GA who passed away Saturday, August 8, 2009 at Donalsonville Hospital. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, August 12, 2009, at 11:00 AM at the Chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home with interment to follow in Red Hill Cemetery in Iron City, GA. Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening, August 11, 2009 from 6:00-9:00 PM at the funeral home. Mrs.Austin was born in Donalsonville, GA on January 25, 1928 to the late Silas and Ola Brockett McDaniel. She attended Unity Church of God for many years. Mrs. Austin worked for a number of years as a seamstress before becoming a caregiver for the elderly and shut-ins. She also worked as a nurse's aide for awhile at the Donalsonville Hospital. Mrs. Austin loved getting together with friends and family to gather and can vegetables for the winter months. She enjoyed traveling with her daughters and spending time with family and friends. A favorite pasttime for her was having time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, especially cooking for them. She was known all around the community for her cakes, biscuits, and tomato gravy. She leaves to cherish her memory, three daughters, Patricia Martin of Jakin, GA, Judith Hardegreeand her husband Daryl of Pine Mills, Texas, and Vickie Basko of Albany, GA; one sister, Verla Berry of Jacksonville, FL; one brother, James Lamar Lane and his wife Billie Jean of Hampton, GA. She also leaves some very important people in her life, 5 grandchildren, Timothy Eraas, Spence Martin, B.J. Hall, LoRetta Martin, and Chasity Comerford and 6 great grandchildren, Kaitlin Yarbrough, Lawson Hall, Gunner Yarbrough, Cohen Hall, Caden Yarbrough, and Desy Guerrero. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents, Silas and Ola Brockett McDaniel; the father of her children, John P. Braswell; one sister, Virginia Harrison; five brothers, Woodrow McDaniel, Calvin McDaniel, Bernard Miller, Brady Ray Miller, and Jessie Oliver Lane; two sons, Carlos Eugene Braswell and John Anthony Braswell; and one granddaughter, Shannon Comerford. Active casketbearers will be Buddy Lane, Bobby Lane, Marty Lane, Phillip McDaniel, Carlos Faircloth, and Michael Miller. Evans-Skipper Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.