Austin Honnette Echols

Austin Honette Echols, of Helen, Georgia, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Mr. Echols was born May 26, 1935, in Altoona, Alabama, to the late Austin Bernie Echols and Mamie Lou Brooks Echols. He had a distinguished career as a leader in education and civic affairs. Mr. Echols received his AA at Lee University in Cleveland, TN, his BS and M. Ed from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN, and his PhD from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. His exemplary teaching was evidenced by honors from several school systems, but mainly from Lee University where he excelled in several related professional organizations. He lived a life marked by faith and service. Mr. Echols taught classes at UT, Vanderbilt, and Lee.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Elaine Echols; son and daughter-in-law, Eddie and Lisa Echols of Helen, GA; daughter, Sharon Priest of Cleveland, TN;  step-daughter, Angel Langston of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Darren (Candace) Echols, Drew (Caitlin) Echols, Daniel Echols, Megan Echols, Morgan Echols, Dillon Echols, Kelland (Kendall) Priest, Brittany Priest, and Lyric Langston; great-grandchildren, Elliott and Emory Echols.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 P.M. Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Helen Presbyterian Church.  Dr. Roe Calloway will officiate. The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:00 P.M. Tuesday, at the church, prior to the service.

Burial will follow at 11 A.M. (Central Time) Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Crestwood Cemetery in Gadsden, Alabama.

To share a memory or leave a condolence with the family, visit barrettfh.com.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland.