Frances Elise Amacker Austin

Frances Elise Amacker Austin was born July 3, 1925 the fourth child of James Cleveland Amacker and Stella Mimms Amacker. She attended school in Columbus Mississippi, Nashville and Chattanooga Tennessee before graduating high school at the age of 15 in College Park Georgia. She then attended Belhaven University in Jackson Mississippi and graduated when she was 19. 

She worked for 2 years in an allergist’s office in Jackson before relocating to Atlanta to work as a stewardess for Delta Airlines until 1948 when she married Edward Jones Austin. In 1949 she composed, played piano and sang Philco commercials on WAGA TV in Atlanta where she also had her own TV show. They then moved to Canton Georgia where Edward Greer Austin was born in 1951. Second son Mark Stephen Austin was born in Atlanta in 1955. 

In the 1960’s during the desegregation of public schools she helped other volunteers found the North Fulton Child Development Association in Roswell Georgia. She remained there until 1980 when she left to care for sister Marie Fisk who died in 1980, as well as mother Stella Amacker who died in 1986. Her musical background allowed her to direct Chancel choirs at Canton First Methodist and later Dunwoody Methodist. 

Frances was a member of the PEO sisterhood since 1966 and also St. James United Methodist Church in Atlanta since 1959. There she sang in the choir and held various positions including Chair of Missions, Chair of Education,, Lay Leader and Sunday School teacher. 

Frances is survived by sons Greer (Judy) and their daughters Ashley Owen, Melissa (Charlie) Isbell, Michelle Austin and Mark (Angie) and their sons Tyler (Whitney) and Matt (Jason) along with 8 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be Thursday June 20 at Ingram Funeral Home, 210 Ingram Avenue Cumming 30040 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A graveside service for immediate family will be held at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs Friday June 21 at 9:00 AM. A memorial service will be held at St. James UMC, 4400 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road Atlanta 30342 on Friday June 21 at 2:00 PM with a reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. James UMC 4400 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road Atlanta 30342 or your favorite charity.