Curlie B Walton

Over 96 years ago, on February 1, 1922, in Elberton, Georgia, God gave a gift to our family and the world named Curlie Bradford through her parents, Joe and Anna Bradford.

On Monday, September 17, 2018, God called his beloved child, and a humble servant of God, to his mansion he has prepared for her.   It is an honor and with such love that we gather in celebration and thanking God for allowing each of us the time we spent with such a remarkable and wonderful woman.

Curlie Walton (known as Mother Walton to the family) was reared in her birthplace where she attended several grades of schooling during the early years of her life.  Not given the opportunity to finish high school or attend college due to the economic circumstances of her family during that period of time, she was a powerful woman and of great wisdom.

Curlie was married to Samuel Walton, Sr., 57 years prior to his passing.  Curlie and Samuel moved to Charlotte as a young couple with three children in 1946, which became home for them where they raised seven children; even though she had not finished high school or college five of her children graduated from college due to her emphasis on education.   Mother Walton had a family motto “if you eat in my house, you are going to work outside of my house”.  Each of her children worked from a young age until they left her household.  Upon entering the household on payday, the children gave their pay checks to Mother Walton and she managed the finances.  She gave the children an allowance out of the money they made.  It was a good strategy on Mother Walton’s part because her management of the household finances enabled the family to move from renting to home ownership.

Initially, Curlie and her family attended Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, and then moved their membership to Gethsemane Baptist Church and ultimately to Reeder Memorial Baptist Church where she was a Charter Member.  She served as a Deaconess and in other auxiliaries until her health failed her.  She loved Reeder and was crowned Mrs. Reeder as a result of raising the most funds during the church capital campaign.

Mother Walton’s love for family, friends, church and community has been steadfast over the years.  She has instilled her faith in God, high standards and expectations not only in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her church family, neighborhood kids and friends as well.  She has lived her life understanding that it is in lifting others up that you are lifted up, and to never take a “back seat” to anyone, or anything in life.

Mother Walton was a homemaker and Matriarch for her family and was very active in her Barringer Woods Community where she campaigned for many politicians over the years.  One of her many hobbies included reading the newspaper daily to keep up with current events,  dressing herself, her husband and kids in fashionable attire, and watching the Steve Harvey show to admire how Steve was dressed.

Curlie was preceded in death by her late husband, Samuel Walton, Sr., five sons; Clarence Thomas Walton, Melvin E. Walton, The Reverend Robert L. Bob Walton (former Mecklenburg County Commissioner), Emmitt T. Walton, and Samuel Walton, Jr.

Survivors left to cherish great memories  include her sister, Betty B. Murray, step-son George Matthews (Lillie Matthews), James W. Walton (Clementine Reid Walton), Jeanette W. Johnson (Joe C. Johnson), Larry D. Walton (Delores P. Walton) and daughter-in-law, Thelma A. Walton, 24 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

The death of people whom we love brings sorrow and deep pain;

but if our loved ones know the Lord, our loss becomes their gain.