Durand Lamont Austin was born July 18th, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois. As the first born son to his parents, Dennis and Mae Linda Joseph , Durand understood his role as a big brother and protector. Durand looked after his two sisters, Altia (Joseph) Eubanks and Angela (Joseph) Dadzie, as well as brother, Shawntain (Joseph) Austin like they were his own children. His go to line to get them to “act right” was: “Please stop before mom and dad kill me”.  This desperate plead was usually effective for him in regaining control over a disorderly situation.

Durand had many aspirations and goals as a young man. The greatest of them was his passion for art. As a young boy, he would take pieces of foil and make out of it little action figures. As his skills continue to grow, Durand could effortlessly draw people or things around him within a few minutes time. When Durand told you to “be still”, you knew he was in creating mode and to get a free sketched portrait of yourself you would comply. 

Due to a chronic condition, Durand was limited to what he could physically do. Durand was diagnosed with the illness Sickle Cell disease after enduring what was understood to be his first crisis at about two years of age. Sickle Cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that causes the hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the tissues of the body, to malfunction due to a lost of oxygen which causes a normal shaped red blood cell to become a crescent shaped or sickled. This disruption or blockage of oxygen carrying blood causes extreme pain, fatigue, infections, and organ damage leading to failure. 

It was decided that Durand would continue to live in the city of Chicago with his grandparents after his family moved away about an hour south so he could continue receiving treatment with his established health care professionals. Durand loving grandmother, Sarah Haynes, was his biggest advocate to ensure he received the best care. As Durand continued to be hospitalized throughout his life, his medical journey was instrumental in helping doctors to further research and try to understand as well as treat Sickle Cell disease. From new residents to seasoned doctors, Durand was widely known and respected. Even doctors who went on to retire, made Durand their last patient of choice.

Durand also met others who had various illnesses during his hospital stays. They would instantly strike up a friendship for the duration of their admission; some he would see often but most never again. From this experience, Durand learned lessons in compassion and accepting people who are perceived different. That is how Durand chose to live his life.

Durand would go on to marry the love of his life, Chenita (Johnson) Austin. He also accepted and loved her daughters, TaJauna and Wynita, as his own. Durand learned from his own father, their is no step or half family members. We are one family and the love is the same for all members. Durand and his family would later relocate to Champaign, IL. He continued to care for various friends and family that needed help. He opened up his heart and home to different ones that were often looked at as a lost cause. Ask anyone, and they would tell you, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I did in life without Durand’s help. Durand continued to be a loving devoted husband until his wife’s passing. Durand was also a proud grandpa of Ra’Niyah and a proud uncle of JJ and Caleb. 

Durand was a family man. He did not want any sympathy or special treatment. He would often say, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” 

It is the hope of the family of Durand Austin, that the God of tender mercy, will fulfill his promise at John 5:28,29: Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgement.

We appreciate and thank you for all the expressions of love during this difficult time.