percy walker
1927-1993
Life Story
Biography
(May 29, 1927 – October 20, 1993)
Early Life and Family
Percy Walker was born on May 29, 1927, to Lewis Walker and Cora Evans Walker. He was raised within the extended Walker and Evans family network and maintained lifelong ties to Newton County, Mississippi.
Military Service
Percy Walker served in the United States Armed Forces during the post–World War II era, with two documented periods of service:
- United States Army
Enlisted: September 22, 1945
Discharged: December 4, 1946 - United States Air Force
Enlisted: August 12, 1952
Discharged: July 3, 1953
His service reflects the transitional military period following World War II, when many veterans continued or returned to service during the early Cold War years.
Church Membership and Community Life
Percy Walker was a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, where he remained connected to church life and fellowship. At his passing, church members served as pallbearers, and the Mission Sisters served as flower bearers—an indication of his standing within the congregation.
Migration and Residence
Family obituary records indicate that Percy Walker lived for a period in Pasadena, California, before later returning to Newton County, Mississippi. This westward migration aligns with broader mid-20th-century patterns in which African American families and individuals left Mississippi for employment opportunities in California and other western states, particularly during and after World War II.
By the early 1990s, Percy Walker had returned home to Newton County, where he remained connected to St. John Missionary Baptist Church and was ultimately laid to rest among family and community members.
Death and Funeral Services
Percy Walker passed away on October 20, 1993, at the Veterans Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, October 24, 1993, at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Newton, with Pastor David Wash officiating.
Burial
He was laid to rest in the St. John Missionary Baptist Church graveyard, placing him among family members and fellow congregants in a cemetery central to the Walker family’s history.
Survivors
According to the obituary notice, Percy Walker was survived by two brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, and a host of relatives and friends.
Source Context: Newspaper Obituary (1993)
The obituary confirms Percy Walker’s birth and death dates, church membership, funeral details, burial location, and surviving relatives. It also documents the role of church members and Mission Sisters in the funeral service, underscoring the importance of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in his life.
Historical Significance
Percy Walker’s life reflects the experience of African American men of his generation who balanced military service, church membership, and family obligation. His burial at St. John Missionary Baptist Church further anchors the Walker family’s legacy within Newton County’s religious and communal landscape.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1940 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- The Newton Record, Donza J. Walker Obituary, Wed, Nov 01, 1972 ·Page 19
- The Newton Record, Percy Walker Obituary, Wed, Oct 27, 1993 ·Page 3
- U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
- U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
- U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
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