clifton walker
1905-1921
Life Story
Early Life
Clifton Walker was born on March 3, 1905, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Scott Walker (1880–1952) and Mary Jane Rigsby Walker (1883–1950). He grew up in a hardworking farming household and was part of two longstanding local families deeply rooted in the Altare, Bethel, and Evans communities.
Family and Daily Life
As a youth, Clifton worked as a farm hand on the home farm, contributing to the family’s livelihood from an early age. His upbringing reflected the expectations placed on young men in rural Mississippi during the early 20th century, when children often labored alongside their parents in agriculture.
Accidental Injury and Death
Clifton’s life ended tragically on November 30, 1921, at just 16 years old. His death certificate records the cause as an infection resulting from an accidental gunshot wound.
Accidental firearm injuries were not uncommon in rural areas where hunting, livestock protection, and firearm use were part of daily life. Infections from wounds were often fatal before antibiotics became widely available.
His father, Scott Walker, served as the informant on the death certificate, underscoring the family’s grief and the role he played in final arrangements.
Burial
The place of burial was listed as Newton, which commonly referred to one of the local Black cemeteries in the area. He is believed to be laid to rest among relatives in the broader Newton County burial grounds associated with the Walker, Evans, and Rigsby families.
Legacy
Though Clifton’s life was brief, his story reflects the hardships faced by rural families in the early 1900s—limited access to medical care, dangerous working conditions, and the ever-present risks of agricultural life. His memory is preserved through family lineage, burial records, and the documentation that honors the young lives lost too soon.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
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