The 100 Black Women of Funeral Service is proud to present the second of its five 2015-2016 Academy Awards of Funeral Service Honorees of St. Louis to Austin A. Layne, Jr., founder of the Austin A. Layne Mortuary. With 3 beautiful locations in the St. Louis Area the Layne’s serve the community from their mortuary as well as 2 chapels, the Layne Renaissance Chapel and their newest facility the Layne Normandy Chapel.         Austin Augustus Layne, Jr. graduated from Vashon High School in January 1954. Following graduation he attended Stowe Teacher’s college. He served our nation in the United States Army from 1959 to 1961. From 1967 to 1974 he was a computer specialist for the United States Government. Austin holds an Associate Degree in Applied Science from the School of Mortuary Science at Forest Park Community College and has done additional educational studies at Washington University and Webster University.

  Austin has been a licensed funeral director for more than 30 years. In 1979, after serving as a funeral director and embalmer for the historic Wade Funeral Home in St. Louis, where he gained invaluable experience and knowledge, he stepped out on faith and up to the next level by establishing his own business enterprise, Austin A. Layne Mortuary. Austin manages both the day to day operations and marketing services for the mortuary. He is very active in the St. Louis community and currently serves as National Organist, pianist and Regional Music Coordinator for the 12th Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. Austin also dedicates time to his community giving concerts, seminars and workshops and is host of a Sunday Morning and Evening Radio Program.

  Our 2015 Academy Award Recipient is active in numerous community and civic groups, including the Jennings Chamber of Commerce, The Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, The National Funeral Directors Association, The National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, The St. Louis Gateway Funeral Directors Association. Austin still finds time for fraternal involvements such as the Phoenix #79 of the Masonic Lodge.