arthur “tank” lee walker
1946-1994
Life Story
Roots in Newton County and the Altare Community
Arthur Lee Walker’s story is firmly rooted in Newton County, Mississippi, despite his residence in Hattiesburg. Both of his parents were born and reared in the Altare community, a rural area long associated with the Altare congregation and several interrelated Walker and Evans family lines.
His father, Willie Walker (1908–1968), and his mother, Ruby Lee English Walker (1912–1994), were natives of Newton County and members of the Altare community before relocating elsewhere for work and opportunity. Arthur’s paternal grandparents were Will Walker (1888–?) and Virinda Evans Walker (1887–1936), also of the Altare community, placing Arthur squarely within one of the long-established Walker–Evans family networks documented in the area.
On his maternal side, Arthur’s grandparents were Ben English and Pearl Moncrief, further tying him to Newton County families whose lives spanned farming, church life, and migration during the early and mid-twentieth century.
Though Arthur lived outside the county, these deep family roots explain his continued identification with Newton County and why his life belongs within its documented community history.
Early Life and Family
Arthur was born to Willie Walker and Ruby Lee English Walker, both of whom carried forward the values of discipline, hard work, and community responsibility learned in Newton County. These values shaped Arthur’s early development and his later achievements in education and athletics.
Education and Athletics
Arthur attended Rowan High School, graduating with the Class of 1965. He was a standout multi-sport athlete, participating in football, basketball, baseball, and track. His athletic ability earned him recognition beyond his school years and led to a football scholarship to the University of Tulsa, a significant accomplishment for a young Black man from a Mississippi family during the 1960s.
Adult Life
Arthur made his home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he remained connected to his classmates and extended family. His enduring ties to his high school community were evident at his passing, when members of the Rowan High School Class of 1965 served as his pallbearers.
Death and Burial
Arthur “Tank” Walker passed away on November 16, 1994, at his residence in Hattiesburg, at the age of 49. Funeral services were held at True Light Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, with Rev. Johnny Williams officiating. He was laid to rest at Highland Cemetery, Hattiesburg.
Survivors
Arthur is survived by:
- One son: Roger Walker of Oakland, California
- One brother: W. D. Walker of Oakland, California
- Four sisters: Pearl Christmas of Compton, California; Birdie Robinson, Loula Navy, and Willie Barlow, all of Oakland, California
Why This Matters
Arthur “Tank” Walker’s biography illustrates how Newton County’s influence extended far beyond its borders. Though his adult life unfolded elsewhere, his identity was shaped by Altare-rooted parents and grandparents whose lives were embedded in the county’s church, farming, and family networks.
His athletic success and college scholarship reflect how the values cultivated in rural Black communities—discipline, perseverance, and collective support—translated into broader opportunity. Including Arthur in Newton County’s historical record ensures that migration does not erase belonging and that the Altare community’s legacy is understood not only through those who stayed, but also through those who carried its imprint into the wider world.
If you’d like, I can also cross-reference Arthur directly into the Will Walker / Virinda Evans family section, so his placement is visually and narratively clear within the Altare lineage.
Resting Place
Highland Cemetery, Hattiesburg, MS
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1950 Federal Census
- Hattiesburg American, Willie W. Walker Obituary, Fri, Jul 05, 1968 ·Page 7
- The Newton Record, Willie Walker Obituary, Wed, Jul 10, 1968 ·Page 11
- Hattiesburg American, Arthur “Tank” Walker Obituary, Tue, Nov 22, 1994 ·Page 10
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