Bammer Dennis Austin was born to Wallace and Myria Dennis on May 10, 1884 in the state of Mississippi.  According to family members that remember her, she is described as being of medium build, average height, brown complexion with long black hair that she kept pinned up in two braids.  She was one of several children.  It is believed that she may have been of Cherokee Indian decent.  Her given name at birth was Bammer although many family members and friends called her Bama.  At the age of thirteen she met and married William Austin who was eighteen years of age.  He fondly called her “Hon”. 

 

William was born on November 3, 1879 to Tom and Emma Smith Austin.  Family members stated that William was tall with a dark complexion and wore a thin mustache.  He was called “Bus”.  To this union eight children were born: Tommie, Lucious, Lula, Marylee, Jessie, Bessie, Samuel and Alma, who passed away May 24, 2011.

 

The family resided in Lafayette County, Mississippi.  William and Bama were true believers in the LORD.  William served as a Deacon and later received his calling from the LORD and became Assistant Pastor of Smith Chapel C.M.E. Church, which, in part, was built from the ground up by his very hands.  It was there where they worshipped faithfully. 

 

Establishing a true foundation from which our family, even today, enjoy the spirit of entrepreneurialism, William provided for his family by sharecropping on his land from which he harvested peanuts, watermelon, cotton and livestock while Bama and the children helped in farming the land. 

 

In an incredibly indescribable way, their Love was bonded so much so that on March 15, 1965, when Bama departed this life due to illness, William held her hand and said “I’ll be joining you Hon” and in less than twenty-four hours later, on March 16, 1965, William departed this life to be with his LORD……and Bama.