You, the eldest in our family, are the closest personal link to our past. As in African culture, you are to be held in high esteem, because you pass on the family traditions, you possess the knowledge of how to live a fruitful life and your life experiences have conferred upon you the wisdom of the ages.

We give this tribute to you, in recognition of your dedication, strength, fortitude and faith that you have demonstrated throughout your lives. You exemplify the essence of the African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child," by raising not only your own children and grandchildren, but helping to raise your siblings, their children and others in the family.

Despite a life of trials and tribulations, your spirits remain undaunted. You have triumphed and you are now in your glory, as you have been blessed to live to four score and more. May the generations who have come after you and are yet to come, recall your names, recognize your contributions to our family and bestow you a place of honor in the history of your descendants.

Susan C. Lee
Great-great granddaughter of Jack Haley & Silla Short

The Austin and Short Families of Brownsville, Tennessee will forever be linked by at least 2 known marriages. The first being the marriage of Jack Haley Short, my grandfather, grandson of Silla Short and Jack Haley, to Jessie Austin, my grandmother, daughter of John H. Austin and Lula Caldwell, the second being the marriage of Hattie Short, granddaughter of Silla Short and Jack Haley, to Joseph Austin, son of John Austin and Lula Caldwell.

There were also 2 other grand children of Silla Short who married Austin's, Orange Short, the younger brother of Jack Haley Short married a Susie L. Austin of Stanton, Tennessee. To date no records have been discovered that would indicate Susie L. Austin was in any way related to John Austin and Lula Caldwell. Lorena Short, a younger sister of Jack Haley Short married a Henry Austin. Although John Austin and Lula Caldwell had a son named Henry Austin, who died 1955 in Monroe, Michigan. The Henry Austin married to Lorena Short was the son of Jim and Mary Austin, also of Brownsville, but not related to John Austin and Lula Caldwell, this Henry Austin died 1930 in Ripley, Tennessee.

A thanks to Karen Stewart, Bernice Wilkerson, Charles Bobbitt and James Walker all of St. Louis, Missouri. Mary Bobbitt of E. St Louis, Illinois. Denise Johnson of Monroe, Michigan, Stella Austin of Ypsilanti, Michigan. J.C. Turner of Stanton, Tennessee and Sandra Taylor of Seattle, Washington for their endless hours of collecting data related to the Austin and Short Families, to all family members who continue to submit family history for updating this site and a special thanks to Roosevelt Short without who's years of commitment and dedication to keeping our family's history alive, this web site would not have been possible.