Vera Mae Austin

Vera Mae (Stewart) Austin was born on December 31, 1941 in Mandeville, Arkansas. She departed this earthly life on November 2, 2026 in Prescott, Arkansas.

Vera was the oldest of four children born to Carl Lee Stewart, Sr. and Pagerine Hawkins Stewart. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Mandeville, Arkansas. She graduated in 1960 from Washington High School in Mandeville and was a player who won the 1960 State Championship Basketball game. 

She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where she was a 1964 graduate.

Vera started teaching at McRae High School in 1964 and there she met Howard Austin, a fellow teacher, who would become her loving husband in 1965. While at McRae High School, Vera taught general and business math. She was also the assistant girls’ basketball coach and the cheerleading sponsor. When school integration occurred in Prescott in 1969, Vera became a teacher of business and consumer math at Prescott High School. In addition, she was a sponsor for National Honor Society. She remained at Prescott High School until her retirement in 1994 devoting 30 years to the Prescott Public School System. She then spent six years working as a case worker with the Arkansas Department of Social Services in Hope, Arkansas until her full retirement in 2000.

Vera was not just committed to education in Prescott Schools but also committed to Prescott as a community. She was a lifelong member of the Charmettes Civic and Social club. She was a board member of the Nevada County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Prescott Housing Authority. She was also a board member and volunteer at Nevada County FoodShare. She was involved in Concerned Citizens of Prescott (CCP) and was a volunteer for assorted Prescott Kiwanis Club events. She was on the committee for the Prescott chapter of Imagination Library, a book initiative sponsored by Dolly Parton. In her spare time she traveled the world including the Bahamas, St. Martin's, St. Thomas, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Australis, Spain , Hawaii, France, Rome, Italy, Australia, Ireland and several other destinations. She was an avid bowler and loves reading. She was a Sunday School teacher, choir member, church finance clerk, and President of the Mission at Macedonia Baptist Church where she remained a member until her death.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents, Carl L. Stewart, Sr. and Pagerine Hawkins Stewart, and her brother, Carl L. Stewart, Jr.

Vera leaves to cherish her memory her devoted husband of 61 years, Howard G. Austin, Sr., her children, Shunna Austin of Prescott, Satyra Austin Riggins (Cleveland “Race”) of Charlotte, North Carolina and Howard G. Austin, Jr. (Laura) of Springdale, Arkansas; her grandchildren, Danielle Riggins, Jordan Riggins, Nylah Austin, and Emzey Austin; her great-grandchildren, Carson Prince and Cameron Taswell; her brother, Rubin D. Stewart of Inglewood, California; and her sister, Jaunita Stewart of Texarkana, Texas. She also has a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Southern Caregivers of Texarkana in particular Glenda White, and Enhabit Hospice of Texarkana for their devoted care of Vera.

The celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 11:00 am at the Prescott High School Gymnasium, 736 Martin St., Prescott, AR 71857. Viewing will be Saturday from 10:00 am until service time.

Submitted by the Austin Family 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Vera’s name to the Imagination Library (https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com/) or by check to the Nevada County FoodShare (P.O. Box 501, Prescott, Arkansas 71857).

Active pallbearers will be Bro. Brian Brown, Bro. Andrew Deon, Bro. Clemente Stewart, Bro. Andre Stewart, Bro. Brandon Stewart and Bro. Daryl Tidwell. Honorable to mention are Bro. Corey Arnold, Bro. William Craven, Bro. Brian Jordan, Bro. Jesse O'Gunn, III., Bro. Felix Wiley, Deacon Kenneth Wiley, Sr., and Deacon Sam Wiley.