Wanda Austin, age 84, of Beech Bluff, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026

at her Beech Bluff residence with her loving family by her side.

She was born on April 8, 1941, in Pinson, Tennessee, to Alvy B. Burruss and Ruby I. Jones

Burruss. She lived a life marked by devotion, kindness, faith, and love for her family and

community.

Wanda was a Christian woman whose life reflected the values she held dear. After marrying

in 1957, she and her husband, Ray, moved to Aurora, Illinois, where they began working at

Western Electric, later known as AT&T. Wanda worked faithfully there until her retirement in

1991. Following retirement, she returned to her family homestead, where she and Ray

spent the next thirty-five years together, building a life centered on family, home, and the

simple blessings they cherished most.

She was a long-time member of Beech Bluff Baptist Church, where she found joy in her

church family and made it her mission to help everyone feel welcome and special. Her faith

was steady and sincere, and she lived it through her actions, her words, and the care she

showed to others. Wanda had a warm heart and a gentle spirit, and those who knew her

will remember her as someone who always made time for others and who carried herself

with grace.

Family was Wanda's greatest passion. She loved her husband dearly and treasured the life

they built together over many decades. She was a devoted mother to Charles Austin and

his wife Linda, and Amanda Jourdan and her husband Jerry. She was also a proud

grandmother to April Phillips and her husband Brad, Ryan Jourdan and his wife Jennifer,

Alaina Schwall and her husband Chris, and Kylie Austin. Her love extended to her

great-grandchildren, Brinley Phillips, Braylen Phillips, Austin Jourdan, and Theo Jourdan, each of

whom brought her great joy. She also held close the bonds she shared with her brother-in-law,

Vernon Austin and his wife Betty, Sisters-in-law, Bettye Burruss, Linda King and her

husband John, and Anita Austin. Her family was truly the center of her world, and she

supported them faithfully in all of their activities and in every season of life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Hazel Hale and Harold Burruss and her

brother-in-law David Austin.

Wanda was known for her love of cooking, gardening, growing flowers, and putting up

vegetables from her garden. She found happiness in caring for her home and in sharing the

fruits of her labor with those she loved. These simple but meaningful joys were a reflection

of the way she lived, with patience, generosity, and a deep appreciation for the blessings of

everyday life.

SERVICES: A time for family and friends will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026 from 11:00

a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors with a service to follow at

2:00 p.m. with Rev. Robert "Opie" Dodrill officiating. Burial will follow in Beech Bluff

Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Dustin Alexander, Randle Fenimore, Larry Evans, Wesley Crowder, Matt

Ross and Tim Cochran.

The family is requesting that memorial donations be directed to Gideon's International 30

Sutton Place, Jackson, TN 38305, the American Cancer Society online at www.cancer.org,

or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online

at www.stjude.org.

She will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and

great-grandmother, as well as a faithful church member and cherished friend. Wanda Austin

leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and kindness that will continue to live on in the

hearts of all who knew her. Her memory will be treasured by her family and friends, and her

life will be honored for the many ways she gave of herself to others.

Webcasting: https://together.oneroomstreaming.com/AQ7REA