Catts, Austin
CATTS, Sr., Austin
Austin Everett Catts, Sr. died peacefully on October 13, 2021 after a brief illness. Austin was a devoted and loving husband and father, and a loyal friend and litigator.
He was born July 10, 1944, in Atlanta to Frances Austin and Gordon Rives Catts, Jr.
Austin graduated from the Westminster Schools in Atlanta and from Sewanee: The University of the South, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English. He then attended the University of Georgia School of Law, where he earned a juris doctor degree.
Subsequently sworn in to practice law in the State of Georgia in 1971, Austin began his career working for Georgia Legal Services and the Fulton County public defender's office. Over the next 50 years, he practiced law throughout Georgia and the Southeast. He argued before various Trial Courts of Georgia, as well as the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia. He was a member of the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia. He was also admitted to practice before the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, in addition to the highest court of this land, the U.S. Supreme Court.
Austin was involved in many notable and high-profile cases including the infamous Jim Williams "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" case and many others. He was active in the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Later he spent many years as resource counsel under the Criminal Justice Act and was a long-standing member of the Southern District Advisory Committee. Austin was awarded an "AV" rating by Martindale Hubbell, the highest one an attorney can achieve.
In addition to his legal work, Austin was an entrepreneur and co-founder of the legal staffing company, LawStaff, as well as an environmentalist who worked to improve his local community. He volunteered with Blueprint Brunswick, and served on the board of directors of the St Simons Land Trust, as well as the vestry at Christ Church Frederica. He was also longtime counsel to Little St. Simons Island and its owners, and took great pride in partnering in their efforts to preserve the island and its beauty for multiple generations to come.
Austin was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Lee Avery Catts. He is survived by his daughter Avery (Todd), son Everett (Maggie), son James (Caitlin), granddaughters Kathleen (Buddy), Lucy and Rebekah, grandsons James, Alfred and Bennett, brother Gordon, nephew Scott, niece Caroline and countless friends and acquaintances.
Austin will be remembered for his deep and commanding voice, his wry humor and infectious positivity, and of course, his constant invitations for guests to join him on a "cruise" on the Black Banks River.
We, his family, would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff at Southeast Georgia Health System's Brunswick campus for their tireless efforts and support.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Austin's name to Christ Church Frederica.
A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Frederica on November 4 at 3 PM, to be followed by a Celebration of Life for Austin and Lee at Village Creek Landing at 4:30 PM. Please RSVP to cattsandbrooks@gmail.com or via text to 912-399-3594.
