Mr. Austin Lawrence Driver, 19, died Tuesday, March 15, 2022, while traveling with his family in Puerto Rico. A memorial service will be held on the campus of the University of Mississippi on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 4:00 P.M. at The Ole Miss Students Union room 321.
Additionally, a celebration of life service will also be held in St. Louis on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 1:00 P.M. at Crosspoint Church – 5001 Little Rock Road, Saint Louis, MO 63128. The celebration will continue afterwards with an assembly at Watson Trail Park where all are invited to share favorite memories of Austin – 12450 W Watson Road, Saint Louis, MO 63127.
Austin was born in 2002 to Debbie and Mark Driver in St. Louis, MO. The family recently relocated to Oxford, MS where Austin was attending the University of Mississippi.
Austin was a Lindbergh High School 2021 alumni in St. Louis and was currently a freshman at Ole Miss. He was an avid Ole Miss fan but more importantly, a devout man of Christ. He was a team player on and off the field, giving words of encouragement to all who needed them. He never met a stranger or gave up on anyone and most certainly left an impression on everyone he met. His warm, contagious smile will always be remembered.
Growing up, he was a lover of all things football and played for Lindbergh during his high school years. When not on the field, Austin could be found participating in mission trips with his church, St. Lucas United Church of Christ. Whether it was raising funds for these trips by mowing lawns or serving spaghetti suppers, Austin was always involved in all facets to make the mission trips successful. He was admired for his success in inviting non-congregational members on these trips. His favorite trips were to the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky and Tennessee and North Dakota to an Indian Reservation where he and his father, constructed beds for children.
Austin held close relationships with his parents and siblings and enjoyed being with his very large extended family.
He was a business major, with plans to pursue the family business.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ray “Coach” and Shirley Cliffe of St. Louis; George Driver of Paradise Valley, AZ; and his aunt and godmother Janet (Cliffe) Walkenbach, of St. Louis
Austin is survived by his parents, Debbie and Mark Driver of Oxford, MS; two sisters, Katie Driver of Chicago, IL; and Abbie Driver of Nashville, TN; his grandmother, Mary Driver of Wichita, KS; his godmother, Jennifer Morales of Boston, MA; 12 aunts and uncles, and 26 first cousins.
Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Austin’s memory may be made to the The University of Mississippi Foundation – Austin Driver Fund for Dyslexia Services, 406 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655 or to Lindbergh Schools Foundation – Austin Driver Fund 9350 Sappington Road, St. Louis, MO 63128 or online through link: https://bit.ly/austindriver
