Wilma Walker

Wilma Priscilla Angeline Currence Walker, age 99, died on April 19, 2020 at her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. She will be eulogized in a private service followed by burial beside her parents at Green Pond United Methodist Church in Clover, South Carolina.

Born in Bethel, South Carolina on January 11, 1921 to George and Mary Jackson Currence, Wilma lived with her family on her father’s share of a 112-acre tract of land purchased by her grandfather in 1903.She joined Green Pond Church at an early age, and enjoyed attending church services there, as well as at Jerusalem Baptist Church. After four years of education at the Pine Bluff School (“The Timber”), she entered fifth grade at Monroe Street School in Salisbury, North Carolina, where she lived with her uncle, Rev. Israel J. Jackson and grandmother Sarah Meacham Jackson. Although she spent Sunday mornings at her uncle’s church in Salisbury, she never relinquished her membership at Green Pond. After graduating from Price High School, Wilma attended Barber Scotia College in Concord NC. When the all-male Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) in nearby Charlotte NC became co-ed, Wilma transferred to her Uncle Israel’s beloved alma mater, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Throughout her life she was proud to tell everyone that she graduated with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude from what she called “the greatest university in the United States.” It was also at JCSU that she met her future husband, George L. Walker.

After making their initial home in Charlotte, the Walkers were blessed with two children, Lewis and Dequilla. Wilma taught briefly at Harris Chapel School in York County SC before the family moved to Winder, Georgia where Wilma and George taught in the Barrow County public school system. After their marriage ended, Wilma continued teaching elementary school in other Georgia towns and eventually in the Carolinas. After retiring from the teaching profession, she traveled north to Philadelphia and began a new career as a nurse’s aide. While her choice may have been a surprise to many, she was enjoying what her mother always thought she was cut out for – taking care of people.When she realized she was older than many of her clients, she permanently retired and moved back south.

Wilma had a great sense of humor and enjoyed relating tales of long ago. At extended family gatherings, nieces and nephews were accustomed to hearing the same stories every year, and yet they enjoyed them as if they were new. They also looked forward to her cooking, especially at Thanksgiving when she was asked to make the dressing, potato salad and sweet potato pies. Her other great culinary delights were her chicken à la king, lemon meringue pie, damson pie, blackberry cobbler, apple pie and peach cobbler. She put her whole heart into preparing meals without the use of measuring cups or electronic gadgets. The only recipes she ever used were in her head.

Mrs. Walker is survived by her children, Rev. Lewis G. Walker (Julia Ann) of Gastonia, NC and Dequilla Walker of Charlotte NC; sisters Sarah Amanda C. Stowe, Mary Charles C. Moore Adams, and F.Gwendolyn C. Plummer, all of Salisbury, NC.; brother, Norris Currence of Salisbury NC; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.On Thursday, April 23rd, visitors can pay their respect and sign the guest book from 1 to 7 p.m. at Alexander Funeral Home, 1424 Statesville Avenue, Charlotte NC 28206. [Because of Covid-19 and social distancing, a limited number at a time will be allowed to enter. We respectfully ask that you wear masks.] A private service on April 24 th will be followed by burial at Green Pond United Methodist Church Cemetery. At a later date after social distancing restrictions are lifted, a memorial celebration will be held.In honor of this remarkable woman’s life, a Wilma Currence Walker Scholarship Fund will be established at Johnson C. Smith University. For details, please text 704/756-5245.