Mary Shadd Walker

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Mary Shadd Walker, widow of Jerry Walker Jr., died early Saturday morning, Oct. 17, 2015 at White Oak Manor in Columbia.

Born Feb. 17, 1922 in Summerton, she was the oldest child of Abraham and Rosa Lee Manning.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a stepmother, Elizabeth Harvin Shadd; a sister, Martha Miller; a brother, James Shadd Sr.; a son, James Odell Walker; a stepson, Leroy Dinkin; a daughter-in-law, Thelma E. Walker; and a stepdaughter, Mary Carter.

Mother Walker accepted Christ at Allen Chapel AME Church in Sumter. Upon marrying Jerry Walker Jr., she joined Orangehill RMUE Church, now Orangehill Independent Church. She was very active in the missionary society, choir, Sunday school teacher, as president of the Conference Workers Board and as Mother of the Church.

Mother Walker attended public schools in Clarendon and Sumter counties. She worked at Tillman Nursery, Green's Florist and Sumter School District 17 cafeterias.

Mother Walker followed her dream to become an entrepreneur by operating a traveling fresh fruit and vegetable truck in Sumter and Clarendon counties. While working these various jobs over the years, she continued working tirelessly by husband Jerry's side on their 100-acre farm, fondly called "The Ponderosa" by their children. Every acre, except the house lot, was farmed yearly.

Survivors include four sons, Lewis (Connie) Walker and Willie (Fannie) Walker Sr., both of Sumter, Jesse Walker of Wedgefield, and Col. Earl (Valerie) Walker of Perry, Georgia; two daughters, Mary (Therin) McCants of Columbia and Jeannette (Norma) English of Mt. Vernon, New York; 28 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; seven sisters; her special caregivers, Brenda Lawson and Rose Bethea; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, at Orangehill Independent Church, with the Rev. Constance S. Walker presiding and the Rev. Thomas Junious providing eulogy, assisted by the Rev. Lemuel Washington and the Rev. Thomas Junious.

The casket will be placed in the church at 1 p.m., for viewing until the hour of service.

Visitation will be held 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, in the chapel of Sumter Funeral Services Inc.

The procession will leave at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday from the home of her son, Jesse, 3030 Evans Wood Road in Wedgefield.

Sumter Funeral Services Inc. is in charge of arrangements.