Elijah Austin

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On Oct 3rd, 1967, Elijah Darnel Austin was born to Aquilla Austin Frederick and the late Elijah Austin in Clearwater, Florida.  From a very young age Elijah was raised in Attapulgus, Georgia by his late maternal Grandmother, Ms. Ida Mae Scott, whom he often spoke of and absolutely adored. Elijah received all levels of earlier education in the Decatur County School system and was a standout athlete at Bainbridge High School where he excelled in areas of track and field, throwing the shot put and disk as well as in Football playing positions as a Defensive Tackle and Defensive End. Upon graduating from High School, Elijah attended NC State University in Raleigh, NC on a full Football Scholarship where he set the record of bench pressing an overwhelming 625lbs. During this time, he aided his team in taking the WolfPack to two Peach Bowls (1986 &1988), a Copper Bowl (1989), and an All-American Bowl (1990),

Elijah graduated from NC State University in May of 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. After graduation he went on to work tirelessly in various capacities in Hotel Hospitality starting from as early as the1990s holding positions as both Manager of Guest Services and Night Auditor at the Velvet Cloak Inn ending employment at the time of its closing in 2004 then on to working under the Hilton brand at both Hampton Inn and Embassy Suite locations as Night Auditor while simultaneously holding positions in the Wake County School System at both Enloe High School (2003 to 2011) and East Millbrook Middle School (2011 to 2026) as a member of the Football Coaching staff as well as Coach for the Boys and Girls track team. Coach Austin, as Elijah was often referred to, was well known, honored and respected by those who worked alongside him as well as to all the children he taught, coached and mentored.

In the late evening of Sunday, January 4th, 2026, Elijah unexpectedly passed away in the home. He is proceeded in death by his Grandmother, Ida Mae Scott, by his brother, Derrick L Austin and leaves behind to honor his memory his Life Partner of 36 years in the home, Emily J Williams aka EJ, his mother Aquilla Frederick of Brooklyn, NY, brother, Nicholas Frederick (Lisa) of NY, nephew, Adrian Austin of Evans, Ga; Aunts, Beatrice Austin of Attapulgus, Ida “Jean” Scott Robinson (Tony) of Brooklyn, NY,  Lucy Aldridge (Andre) of Lee’s Summit, Mo, Patricia King (Johnny) of Attapulgus, GA, Teretha Scott of Waycross, Ga, and Uncles, Earnest Scott of Orange County, Ca and James Dailey, Miami FL along with a host of many other relatives. In addition to family, Elijah leaves to cherish his memory his best friends Marvin Knight,  Keith Johnson, Joe Johnson, & Ed Reid whom he considered his brothers,  along with his Goddaughter Kwanza Santiago, his Wolfpack Family, his East Millbrook Middle School Family and a host of many others who not only thought so dearly of him but whose lives he touched and impacted daily.  

Memorial Service: 3:00 PM, Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Lea Funeral Home Chapel, 2500 Poole Road, Raleigh, NC.

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