carl wesley walker
1947-1986
Life Story
Biography
(May 8, 1947 – February 1, 1986)
Birth and Parentage
Carl Wesley Walker was born on May 8, 1947, to Joe Wesley Walker (1921–2000) and Otha Mae McGowan Walker (1920–1988). He was a member of a Walker family rooted in Newton County, Mississippi, and closely tied to St. John Missionary Baptist Church.
Military Service
During the Vietnam War era, Carl Wesley Walker served honorably in the United States Marine Corps.
- Enlisted: April 14, 1966
- Discharged: June 10, 1969
His enlistment came at a time when many young Black men from Newton County entered military service amid national conflict abroad and profound social change at home.
Marriage and Family
Carl married Nancy Walker, and from this union two daughters were born:
- Kimberly Walker, of Cleveland, Ohio
- Delarona Wisner, of Houston, Texas
Siblings
He was part of a large and extended family. His survivors included:
- Father: Joe Wesley Walker, of Newton, Mississippi
- Mother: Otha Mae Walker, of Chicago, Illinois
- Sisters: Josephine Chapman, Bonnie Warren, and Esta Walker Dass, all of Chicago, Illinois
- Brother: Ollie Walker, also of Chicago, Illinois
He was additionally survived by nieces, relatives, and a wide circle of friends.
Death
Carl Wesley Walker passed away on February 1, 1986, at the age of 38, in Los Angeles, California. His death away from Mississippi reflects the broader migration of many Walker family members and Newton County residents during the mid- to late-twentieth century.
Funeral and Burial
Funeral services for Carl Wesley Walker were held on Friday, February 7, at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Newton County, Mississippi. The service was officiated by Rev. Rigsby and Rev. Purvis Moore.
He was laid to rest in the Saint John M.B. Church graveyard, returning him to the community and sacred ground where generations of his family are buried.
Arrangements were entrusted to Holyfield Funeral Home of Newton–Forest.
Legacy
Carl Wesley Walker’s life reflects the experiences of a generation shaped by military service, migration, and enduring family ties. His honorable service in the Marine Corps and his burial at St. John Missionary Baptist Church firmly place his story within the historical and genealogical record of the Walker family and the Newton County community.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997
- U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- Scott County Times, Joe W. Walker Obituary, Wed, Nov 15, 2000 ·Page 6
- The Newton Record, Carl Wesley Walker Obituary, Wed, Feb 19, 1986 ·Page 13
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