Shirley Walker

September 28, 2015

Shirley Rose Walker entered eternal rest on Monday September 28th, 2015 less than one week shy of her 78th birthday. Born Oct 4th 1937 Mrs. Walker is survived by her four sons, two daughter in-laws, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, several family members, and a host of friends and neighbors. Her husband (Alvin E. Walker Sr.) of 59 years passed in the Spring of 2014. Born and raised in New Jersey Mrs. Walker came up during the end of the depression and was an over-comer most of her life. She was the oldest of nine brothers and sisters. Married at 17 Mrs. Walker was raising four sons by the time she was 25. Although she faced many of the hardships marriage can present she was resilient. She maintained a quiet yet strong outlook. She worked as a waitress, factory worker, and ice cream parlor manager, when not selling Avon, and a variety of home products popular in the 1970's and 80's. She did what she had to help support her family. In the mid 1980's after spending 45 plus years in the Garden State she relocated to the quiet of Lewisburg, Tennessee to be close to several of her brothers. The Walker's found the slower pace Lewisburg offered quite refreshing and it was in this small town they rekindled their earlier love and friendship. Three sons would soon follow. While she continued to work hard in Lewisburg Mrs. Walker established new friends in her neighborhood often times spending her days at the local senior community center. She loved to play games on the computer, do word games, and put together old fashioned jigsaw puzzle. Hers was a simple life but one she appreciated. How do you measure 78 years on God's green earth. Shirley Rose Walker was a daughter, a sister, a wife, mother, grandmother, a blue collar worker, a friend, and a neighbor. She didn't want for much but she deserved much out of life. Whatever she did, she did to the best of her ability. She was humble and unassuming, yet deep down she fully understood her role in life. Shirley Rose Walker will be missed by many who called her mom, sister, and friend. She loved people and life in her own way. As lives go hers was as special as one could hope to have. A memorial service for Mrs. Walker will be held at Heritage Funeral Home 609 Bear Creek Pike in Columbia, Tennessee.