Malik E. Austin

Malik E Austin was born on November 15, 1996 at Cottage Hospital in Galesburg Illinois to Natasha Trent and Lamont Austin. Malik was born on his mother’s birthday and the one who first gave Natasha the title of mother, the only gift his mother received that year. Coming in at 8 pounds and 13 ounces. We were all excited that we thought an athlete was born and boy, were we right!

Malik’s childhood was spent hanging out with his uncle’s baseball team, having fun times with his cousins who were more like brothers and sisters, having Nerf gun, water gun and water balloon fights amongst other fun activities. The long-standing roast sessions between him, his cousins and friends, with the size of his head, always being their kryptonite against him.

Maliks love for sports began with bitty basketball and T-ball. He went on to play for Carver Center league, Lombard junior high school in basketball, Cal Ripken league for baseball and JFL league in football.

Malik moved to Portland Oregon in 2011 right before his freshman year in high school. He played summer league at Benson Tech and played high school basketball and baseball for Cleveland high school, he received many accolades for his contribution to the Cleveland high school basketball team.

He not only really loved family and sports but had a natural genuine love for animals. From bringing home frogs when he was a child to having a German Shepherd, named Nala, a ball python, and a tegu lizard in his passing, often referred to in the family as our very own Ace Ventura, pet detective .

Malik leaves behind his mother, Natasha Trent(Raheem Alexzander), his father, Lamont Austin(Jolean Overton Austin),sister and best friend💕De’Reanna💕 Holmes, grandparents Angela, Hunter and Steve Coleman, godmother Bobbie Pettis-MARTIN, and a very very important host of siblings, aunts uncles cousins and friends. I wish I could name them all.

Malik was succeeded in death by his grandmother Susan Coleman, great grandmother, Beverly Watson, great grandparents, Corrine Faison and Morris Coleman great great grandparents Alleyene and Charles White.

Visitation will be 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Bethel Baptist Church, Galesburg. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. Rev. Tyson Parks, III will officiate. Burial will be at East Linwood Cemetery, Galesburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of Watson Thomas Funeral Home.