Our Unique Stories

charlie walker

1870-1928

Life Story

Early Life

Charlie (often spelled Charley) Walker was born in Newton County, Mississippi, around 1870. He was the son of Luke Walker (1843–1912) and Lydia Evans Walker (1855–?), linking him to two deeply rooted families in the Bethel and Evans Cemetery communities.

Marriage and Family

Charlie married Mary Della Cunie (1873–?), and together they raised a large family. Their ten known children were:

  1. Albert Walker (1893–?)
  2. Ida Bell Walker (1897–?)
  3. Charlie Walker (1899–?)
  4. Minnie Walker (1901–?)
  5. Bennie Walker (1901–?)
  6. Fred Walker (1904–1978)
  7. Bonnie Walker (1905–?)
  8. Idell Walker (1908–1977)
  9. Annie Walker (1914–?)
  10. Mattie Walker (1916–?)

Their household spanned multiple generations and contributed to the enduring Walker, Evans, and Cunie ties in Newton County.

Occupation and Daily Life

Charlie worked as a farmer, the most common and demanding occupation in the rural South during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work centered on supporting his family and maintaining the land that sustained them.

Illness and Death

Charlie Walker passed away on February 1, 1928, at the age of about 57.
His death certificate lists the cause of death as a ruptured appendix—a medical emergency that, at the time, was often fatal due to limited access to emergency treatment and surgical care in rural communities.

The informant on his death certificate was Robert Walker, likely his nephew who helped manage final arrangements.

Burial

He was buried at Bethel, a burial location frequently associated with what is now referred to as the Evans Cemetery, where many members of the Walker, Evans, Chapman, and Donald families rest.

Legacy

Charlie Walker’s life reflects the resilience of rural Black families in early 20th-century Mississippi: long days of farm labor, a large and interconnected family, and strong roots in the Bethel–Evans community. His descendants continue to form an important part of the region’s history.

Resting Place

Evans Cemetery

Photos/Albums

Charlie Walker Death Certificate
Charlie Walker Death Certificate – 1870-1928

Sources

  • 1870 Federal Census
  • 1880 Federal Census
  • 1900 Federal Census
  • 1910 Federal Census
  • 1920 Federal Census
  • Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
  • U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
  • U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
  • The Newton Record, Fred Walker Obituary, Wed, Oct 18, 1978 ·Page 16

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