Ivory Mae Austin Program

Celebration of Life, Love, and Legacy of )ŔõĚś ;w Qŕwîġõî ŦĺġĮÖî O how beautiful are the gifts of our Heavenly Father. Ivory Mae Swanson Austin was a very precious gift given to us. Ivory was born December 29, 1929 in Tyler, Texas to the parentage of the late Ernest Swanson and Mira Smith Swanson. Ivory received her formal education in the public schools of Tyler, Texas. At an early age, Ivory accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior, and was baptized at the Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. She was united in Holy Matrimony to James C. Pointer, Sr., on April 15, 1949. This union was blessed with two loving children, Linda J. Pointer and James C. Pointer, Jr. After uniting in marriage, she moved to Dallas, Texas and united with the Greater Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend D. C. Presley. Ivory possessed an entrepreneurial spirit and opened her very first business venture in 1960 it was called Ivory’s Barbeque. Ivory, knowing her, like many of us do, chose a prime location in sunny South Dallas on Forest Ave that is now called Martin Luther King Blvd. Her business was blessed and was very successful even while Ivory was facing many challenges in life and weathered many turbulent storms. Ivory later met and married Herbert Cline Austin on August 1967. This loving couple united with the Greater Emanuel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Dr. Ernest Duncan. She began to serve in the Choir. Later, Ivory united with the New Greater Emanuel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Dr. C. L. Veasey, who transitioned in October of 1999. Ivory served in many auxiliaries, faithfully under the leadership of Pastor R. L. Washington, Sr., until her health began to deteriorate. Ivory was diligently working in ministry as a member of the Dr. C. L. Veasey Choir, Sunday Church School Teacher, Women’s Ministry, Church Treasurer, Deaconess Board. And was one of the Mothers of New Greater Emanuel Church. Ivory was known as “The Assistant Pastor” Ivory’s risk-taking spirit lead her to pursue a life changing career in cosmetology. She received her cosmetology licenses from Neilson Beauty College. Ivory graduated as number one in her class. Ivory went on to open