Bea Plumlee Austin
Bea Plumlee Austin has joined her heavenly family. Miss Bea, as she was known to everyone, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019.
Bea Austin was a charter member of the Calvary Bible Church in Chattanooga. Mrs. Austin's special ministry was children. I’m told she started teaching Sunday School as a teenager. This 98-year-old influenced and shaped many a young person's life. Her name is on the door of the Sunday School class she taught.
Many of Miss Bea's students have posted tributes on Facebook. Carmen Bryant Jenkins wrote “She taught me many things about Jesus and His love. She was a shining example of what a Christian woman should be. Miss Bea is now rejoicing that she is in her loving Savior's arms.”
Bea Austin was a three timer, Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night. If her chair was empty you knew she was sick.
Miss Bea was one of Red Bank's oldest citizens. She shared with her church family one Sunday night what life was like growing up in a poor family that didn’t know they were poor. Miss Bea had more cousins that anyone I’ve ever known. Just mention a name and Bea would respond, “I believe they’re my cousin.”
There will be an empty chair in Sunday School and church this Sunday as Bea Austin's shoes can’t be filled.
Miss Bea worked at Lanhams Bible Bookshop in Brainerd Village and Hixson for several decades. She could call most of her customers by their first name but most of the time addressed them as “Honey”.
Bea Austin was one of the best cooks in the church. She’d bring home-cooked vegetables from her garden to our church suppers.
Bea was the mother to three sons, the youngest is her special blessing.
Bea Austin was extra special to me. We shared the same birthday.
A “Celebration of Bea Austin's Life” will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Calvary Bible Church on Mountain Creek Road.
Miss Bea, “We will never forget you, your smile and Christian attitude.”
Earl Freudenberg