Following more than two decades of service at Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers (ABRC), Billy Austin retired from his role as president Jan. 31.
Austin originally planned to retire in July 2013, but those plans changed after an unexpected phone call he received while preparing to return to work after Christmas break.
Austin, who had experienced kidney failure for two years, said the news on the other line was that an organ was available for him in Mississippi.
After his successful kidney transplant, causing him “to be in better health [than] in many years,” he said doctors recommended that he not return to work for approximately two months during his recuperation period. Because of this extended duration away, he decided to move forward with his retirement plans.
Austin received a bachelor of arts degree in religion from Samford University in Birmingham and a master of divinity degree in theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Prior to beginning his managerial role at Clara Verner Tower in Tuscaloosa — an Alabama Baptist facility until 2007 — Austin served as pastor of several churches including First Baptist Church, Tuscumbia; Hopewell Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa; East Tallassee Baptist Church, Tallassee; and First Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Fla.
He later served as manager of Clara Verner Tower in 1988 and remained there until becoming president of ABRC in 1991.
Austin said one reason he believes he was led to work with the elderly is that for many years, he and his family lived in the same home as his maternal grandparents. “I became very close to my grandparents and became deeply appreciative of the elderly,” he noted. “I valued my grandparents greatly and looked up to them.”
Later while serving as a pastor, Austin said he worked with the elderly and would even plan his vacations around the senior adult group trips in order to attend and fellowship with them. So when he had the opportunity to come to work at Clara Verner Tower and later as president of ABRC, he said “it just made sense” that he would continue to minister to the people he had loved so much through the years.
Austin also served two terms on the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), one term on the SBOM Executive Committee and 30 years as registration secretary for the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
Austin’s retirement plans include moving to Tuscaloosa to be near his son. “I have a lot of roots there,” he said, adding he is welcoming the opportunity to spend more time with his family. He also looks forward to the fellowship with other ministers in the area as well as opportunities “as the Lord opens up” for supply preaching and serving as interim pastor.
“I join the Alabama Baptist family of faith in congratulating Billy and Linda Austin for their service to the Lord,” said Rick Lance, SBOM executive director.
“Years ago, when President George H.W. Bush left the White House, he made the comment that he was now going full-time into the grandfather business. I think that would be the sentiment of Billy Austin as well. He is a devoted father and grandfather and I know he will enjoy being back in Tuscaloosa where his family lives,” Lance said, adding that throughout Austin’s ministry, Austin “has exemplified a pastor’s heart.”
And Austin added, “I have told … people that I feel like one of the most fortunate people in the world to work with (ABRC) and work with them for this amount of time.”
He and his wife, Linda, have one son and one grandchild.
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