When it comes to selfless acts of community service, there are few people

who have compiled the record that Ersa Whitlow Austin has. Her legacy is

well defined among those who know her best or have benefited from her

talents, but she is truly an unsung hero, and she has not sought

recognition for her contributions to the community. A retired educator,

Austin taught for 30 years in Warren County, at Parker-Bennett and Bristow

elementary schools. In 1992, she was named the Outstanding Black Educator

in Warren County. Since retirement, Austin has continued to volunteer at

these two schools, as a tutor and as a proctor for testing programs. Her

volunteer work has ranged from church activities to the NAACP, but she is

probably most widely known across Kentucky for her work with Alpha Kappa

Alpha Sorority at Western Kentucky University. Besides serving as treasurer

for the past 27 years, Austin is presently the leader of the organization’s

Heritage Evaluation Team. Also, for the past 25 years at WKU, Austin has

been the graduate advisor of AKA to the undergraduate students. For 59

years, Austin has been a member of State Street Baptist Church, where she

has served as Bible school teacher for 20 years, and Sunday school teacher

for 10. She is currently secretary of the Missionary Society, and in the

past served on the Finance Committee, the Usher Board and the Educational

Committee. As a civic leader, Austin served as a board member and secretary

for the George Washington Carver Community Center for about 30 years. She

has long been active in the NAACP, which presented her with a Community

Support Award in 1994. Among other causes Austin has supported are the

Girls’ Club, the Girl Scouts, the American Cancer Society and Habitat for

Humanity. For the last five years, Austin has been involved with the

Community Health Fairs for the Bowling Green Housing Authority, and has

been board member and treasurer for the Bowling Green International

Festival.