Willie Vinton Walker

Willie Vinton Walker was born in Sardis, Mississippi to John Will Walker and Ella Josephine (McKinney) Walker on May 8, 1927.

It was hard times in Mississippi then, and even harder when you had seventeen mouths to feed. Will and Ella did the best they could and the older children tried to help. Willie went to school until the fifth grade and then started working in the cotton fields to help supplement the family income.

Willie knew there was more to life than working the fields so he set out to find a better life. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee and found a construction job. He was a self made man who took good care of his family by working hard. Willie worked in construction all his life until his retirement in 1983.

Willie Was married several times and his wives have preceded him in death. He was father to several children, biological and adopted. He loved and treated them the same. He had a strong sense of moral values and wanted you to live by his rules of behavior whether you were a grown up or not. He spoke his mind and had no problem telling you when he thought you were slipping. Willie was a great conversationalist and story teller. He liked to garden, and at one time owned two large vegetable gardens. Those gardens helped to feed his family and some of the neighbors too. Willie would sometimes make preserves (and maybe a little home made wine). Willie loved fishing and cooked a mean pot roast. He would always help others if he could, especially those that were infirm. He would drive elderly friends to appointments whenever he could.

The angels came, and suddenly Willie was gone. He passed away on April 27, 2013 at the age of 85. Preceding him in death were his parents; his daughter, Carol Faye Davis; his siblings, Charles, Josephine, Izola, Vera, Johnnie Mae, Claudine, Oscar, Katherine, Bessie Lee, A.C. and two others lost in infancy.

Left to mourn his passing are his daughter and caretaker, Natasha Walker, Marvanella (Lewis) Nunn and Calvin V. Walker; his siblings, Earl Webb, Ella Wee Walker and Effie Marie Walker; 17 grandchildren, 13 great grand children and a host of extended family and friends.

Funeral Services were held today at Mt. Olive Baptist Church and he was laid to rest at Glendale.