Willa Mae Austin

Willa Mae Austin, affectionately known as "Tit", was born on March 19, 1933 in Pittsview, Alabama. On Tuesday October 20, 2020 she was carried by an angel to Heaven to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Willa was the only child of the late Lorene Ivery Harris and Truly Harris.

At a young age, Willa gave her life to the Lord and joined Mt. Mariah Baptist Church in Eufaula, Alabama. Briefly during high school, Willa, born Willie Mae Harris, attended Woodward High in Cincinnati. At that school, one of her teachers changed her name to Willa, stating that Willie was a boy name. After graduating Glenville High School in 1953, Willa married Jerry Richmond in 1954 and to this union five sons, one of which died in infancy, and one daughter were born.

In 1965, Willa and her five young children relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio where she found work to support her family. A few years after moving to Cincinnati, Willa met Tommie Austin and the two were married in 1986 until his death in 2009.

Willa eventually obtained her associates degree from Southwestern College of Business. Willa joined New Jerusalem Baptist Church January 1, 1980 where she was a member of the Nurse's Guild and received the living legend award in 2017. Willa remained a faithful member until her passing. In the late 1980's, Willa started working for the IRS as a data clerk and worked until her retirement in the early 2000's.

Willa loved fishing and cooking, which she would do as often as she could until her health would no longer allow it. She loved old school and gospel music, she even learned how to work YouTube to listen to music! Willa never met a stranger, she welcomed everyone into her home and would always ask if you wanted something to eat. Behind that sweet smile was a whip of a lady who would tell it to you exactly like it was, with love, of course. You could often find her sitting in her recliner, playing games on her tablet or chatting on the phone with family and friends. She was auntie, cousin, sister and mom to a lot of people.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother; former husband, Jerry Richmond; husband, Tommie Austin; son, Baby Richmond; son, Jerome Richmond and daughter-in-law, Geraldine Richmond.

Willa leaves to cherish her memory: four children: Dwight Richmond Sr., Jerry Richmond, Douglas Richmond and Lavonzell Richmond. 12 grandchildren: Lisa, Jerry, LaVonne, Kwesi, Jason, Jaquala, Cocoa, Dwight Jr., Issa, Kenyatta, Marquez, and Jerrica; 17 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren and a host of family and lifetime friends.

My siblings and I were blessed to have the sweetest and most loving mother anyone could have ever imagined. She was there for us until her last breath. Anyone who met her loved her. She will be missed by a great many family and friends. Love you Mama! We will all be together again. -Doug

Funeral Ceremony will be at 12:00 pm Friday, October 30, 2020 with a visitation from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, 26 West North Bend Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45216. Burial to follow at Spring Grove Cemetery.


To share a memory of Willa or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.