Calvert Merel Austin

With overwhelming sadness, the Austin, Gregg, and Baker families of Roanoke, announce the passing from this life of their beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Calvert Merral Austin, 73, a life-long resident of Roanoke.

Mr. Austin transitioned from this life on Monday evening, February 20, 2023, at his residence in Roanoke; thus a familiar, friendly face has now been erased from our midst, but never from our memories.

Calvert Austin was born in Harlem, New York County, New York, on March 3, 1949, to the parentage of the late Mitchel Austin and Estella Smith Austin (Gunn).  In 1951, at age 2, the family left New York and migrated to Roanoke, which became his permanent home for the remainder of his natural life.

At an early age, Calvert joined Rehope Baptist Church, where he remained a faithful member until his homegoing.  He graduated from High School, and worked briefly for Handley Textile Mills.  He later enlisted in the Army, and gave seven years of honorable service to our grateful nation   The kind of guy who would give you the shirt off of his back, Calvert opened his heart up to everyone around him. His interests were many — cooking and barbequing, selling sausages on the street; he also enjoyed automobile body repair and LOVED fishing. While in the military, he became disabled, but still briefly held employment at West Point Pepperell and Plantation Patterns.

Aside from his parents Mitchel and Estella, Calvert was preceded in death by siblings: Essie Duncan, Curtis Austin, and  Cletus, Austin. As life neared its end, he stood face to face with his own mortality. Perhaps in that transitory moment, he caught a glimpse of his mother, father, and siblings, coming to welcome him to his eternal home. Fading farther from that once robust young man he once was, he surrendered to the One who had the power to transform him in an instant and took flight from this fleeting condition we call "life" on Monday evening, February 20, 2023, at his residence in Roanoke.

Holding fast to precious memories of happier times gone but never forgotten is his former wife and devoted caregiver, Mrs. Lizzie Austin Gregg of Roanoke; son: Cedric Howell of Griffin, GA;  daughter, Tasha Baker-Dunn (Chad) of Roanoke;  and son, Mark Baker (Lisa) of Lineville, AL;  grandchildren: NyKobie Stevens and Akenzie Nunn of Roanoke; brother, Carl Austin of Roanoke; sisters: Audrey Phillips Owens also of Roanoke, Barbara Ann Beatty (Eddie) of Raleigh, NC, and  Estella Marshall (Winston) of Charlotte, NC; his best friend Billy Jones; and special friends, Reverend Jeffery Rosser and Reverend William Phillips all of Roanoke; and finally a great host of nieces, nephews, other beloved relatives, and friends.

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