calvin (cal) walker
1892-1975
Life Story
A Life of Faith, Family, and Devotion in the Altare Tradition
Early Life and Family Heritage
Calvin “Cal” Walker was born on July 3, 1892, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Thomas (Tom) Walker Sr. (1871–1929) and Clara Beason Walker (1870–?). He was raised in the Altare community, a rural area south of Newton known for its deep spiritual roots, family unity, and strong work ethic. In 1900, at five years old, he and two siblings were living with their mother using the surname of Beason. Clara may have passed away before the 1910 census. By 1910, Calvin was living with his father and stepmother Ophelia Scanlan (1875-?).
Growing up, Cal worked on his family’s farm, where he learned the values of perseverance and humility. His early life reflected the rhythms of the countryside—long days in the fields, Sunday worship at Altare Missionary Baptist Church, and the quiet dignity of labor that sustained his family through generations.
Faith and Family Life
Calvin’s faith was a defining part of his life. A lifelong member of the Altare Missionary Baptist Church, he was known for his steadfast devotion and humble service. His life reflected the enduring Altare tradition of faith, family, and fellowship.
In his early adulthood, Calvin was united in marriage to Emily Payne (1904–?), and together they raised a loving family. From this union were born:
- Clotile Walker (1920–2003)
- Tommie Walker (1922–?)
- Toonie Walker (1924–?)
- Lucile Walker (1927–?)
- Catherine Walker (1930–?)
Following Emily’s passing or their separation, Calvin remarried in 1936 to Lola Evans (1900–1968), a woman of deep faith and compassion. Together, they continued the Walker family legacy of devotion and community service. From their union came:
- Dilla Walker (1936–1936)
- Annie Mae Walker (1939–?)
- Dorothy Walker (1944–?)
Calvin worked as a farm laborer, dedicating his life to cultivating the land that had long sustained his family. His work was a quiet act of faith—providing for his household and contributing to the strength of his community.
Later Years and Passing
In his later years, Cal watched as his children and grandchildren spread across Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, and Michigan, carrying forward the values he had instilled—hard work, faith, and kindness.
On December 9, 1975, at 12:30 a.m., Calvin Walker passed away at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, at the age of 83. His death marked the end of a long and faithful life of service, sacrifice, and devotion to God and family.
At the time of his passing, he was survived by five daughters—Mrs. Clotile Nichols, Mrs. Katherine Jones, Mrs. Lucile McCree, Mrs. Dorothy Towner, and Mrs. Ruby Harper—and two sons, Robert Payne and Bennie (Ben) Ware; along with three siblings, Mrs. Willie Salter of Newton, J.P. Walker of Lawrence, and Otis Walker of Newton; thirty grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and relatives.
Funeral services were held at Altare Missionary Baptist Church, where friends, family, and community members gathered to celebrate his life and faith.
Legacy
Calvin “Cal” Walker’s life embodies the enduring spirit of the Altare community—faith, resilience, and love of family. Through his labor on the land, his devotion to church, and the generations he helped nurture, he left behind a legacy that continues to echo through the lives of his descendants.
His life tells the story of countless African American families of rural Mississippi—men and women who, despite hardship, built lives of meaning through their belief in God, the dignity of work, and the power of family.
Laid to rest in the Altare Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard, Calvin rests among the very people and land that shaped his life, his legacy forever woven into the faith and history of the Altare tradition.
Resting Place
Altare Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- The Newton Record, Calvin (Cal) Walker Obituary, Wed, Dec 17, 1975 ·Page 12
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
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