Obituary of Littie Lee Strickland Austin

Littie Lee Austin, 106, longtime Como resident and volunteer at Como Elementary School, passed away December 24, 2023. 

Visitation at 11:00 a.m. with a Funeral Service at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home, 4350 River Oaks Blvd.  (Note change of location from the church to the funeral home.)

Interment: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 9, 2024 in Oakwood Cemetery, Jacksboro, Tx.

On February 26, 1917, in Prosper, Texas, Collin County, God looked down through the periscope of time and blessed Dana Wilson Strickland and Tom Strickland with a beautiful girl whom they named Littie.  There was no coincidence, but Divine Intuition that Littie would make her entrance into the world in the month of February.  February is the month of Love!  Littie possessed the spirit of Love, Faith and Compassion.

 

Before Littie was school age, the family moved from Prosper, Texas to Jacksboro, Texas where she received her Public School  education and graduated from High School.

 

Later, Littie’s desire to travel took her to Hobbs, New Mexico.  It was there she met and married James Avant.  To this union two lovely children were born, Charles and Alyne.  The family returned to Texas and lived in Monahans, Texas for many years.  After Littie’s first husband’s death, she married Frank Austin from Kermit, Texas.  The two remained inseparable until his demise in 2007.  Along with her husband, Frank, the two Shared a life of Unity, Faith and Love.

 

Sis. Littie Austin was and is not ashamed of the Gospel.  Here at MMBC she served as Mission President, Youth Leader and served on the Financial Committee of the Church.  She gladly rendered service wherever needed.  Out of the Many Christian attributes that she possessed, BOLDNESSS was the one that touched many.  She was a bold soldier.  She never hesitates in the presence of the adversary, nor does she negotiate at the pool of popularity.  With her devoted daughter, Sis. Alyne Arnold, by her side, she was in attendance at Church regularly.  When her health became comprisable, her triumphant spirit still overflowed through her daughter’s (Sis. Alyne Arnold) service both spiritually and financially.  Littie’s banner is clear.  The family MMBC were privileged to have such a woman of valor as a part of the “Fellowship of the Unashamed.”

 

Littie was known as a longtime volunteer at the Como Elementary School.  She served for more than 30 years.  She served more that 15 years on the Fort Worth Council of PTA’s Board.  She also served on the school district’s Human Relations Committee.  The work that she has done speaks for itself.

Once Sis. Littie Austin was asked what she had learned in her life that she wished to share with the younger generation.  This was her reply: “I think that happiness comes from within you.  It’s not what you have and it’s not what someone else does.  You’ve got to decide for yourself if you want to be happy.  True happiness comes from within. You make  the choice to be happy.  You make the choice to be content or you make the choice to be unhappy.”

Littie was preceded in death by her mother, Dana Wilson Strickland; father, Tom Strickland; sister, Ruby Strickland Anderson; son, James Norman Avant; daughter, Lois Austin Sanders; grandchildren, Loretta Thomas and Yvette Bridges. 

She is survived by her son, Charles Avant; daughters, Alyne Arnold and Tanya Carden; grandchildren, Rhonda (Ken) Boyce, Michael (Claudine) Arnold, Frank (Bridgettte) Vann Sr., Darryl (Teyuan) Sanders, Jessie Hawkins and Shulawn Avant; a holst of great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; her extended family, The Russell's, Cynthia, David and Nancy; god-daughter, Shirley Clark; and a host of other relatives and friends.