Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, 2023, in the Mortimer National Funeral Home Chapel in Grenada for Jackie L. Austin Weibly, 88, of Grenada, who went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, June 11. Burial will follow in Grenada Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time on Saturday, June 17, at Mortimer National Funeral Home.
Jackie was born in 1934, the daughter of the late Jack S. and the late Mary L. Austin. From a very early age, she began singing and blessed everyone who knew her with the most beautiful voice.
Singing on radio programs both in Grenada and Memphis, Tenn., by the time she was in high school, Jackie had already been a guest on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour. This led her to New York where she met and was signed as a vocalist by Shep Fields and the Shep Fields Orchestra. Her tour lasted for five years and took her across the United States doing what she loved most in life. She later began the Jackie Austin Trio and sang with many of her closest friends including, Gene Whiting and Sonny Hubbard.
Following this time, Jackie became the activities director for several nursing facilities in Houston, Texas, until her retirement, upon which she returned “home” to Grenada. There she continued singing at different venues upon request and led worship at her home church, Lakewood Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents, her husbands, Gene Whiting and Richard Weibly; her brothers, Robert Austin and Johnny Austin, and one sister-in-law, Kyoko Austin, preceded Jackie in death.
Survivors include, one sister-in-law, Kay Austin; nephews, Johnny Austin (Lisa R.) and Randy Austin; nieces, Mary Austin (Jon R.) and Dawn Hayes (Del); great nephews, Hayden Martin and Simon Hayes; great niece, Megan Wray; great-great nephew, Chandler Martin, and many loved relatives, dear lifelong friends and her beloved cat, Jazz.
To know Jackie was to absolutely love her, for she blessed everyone she knew with her love, kindness, faith and songs in her heart that were unending. The family is so grateful that she is singing with a heavenly choir today, and is no doubt, keeping everyone on key.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Lakewood Methodist Church, 809 W. Monroe St., Grenada, MS 38901.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.nfhgrenada.com
Mortimer National Funeral Home in Grenada is in charge of the arrangements.
