Mattie M. Walker

Mattie M. Walker was born April 9, 1937, in Whelen Springs, AR to R.D. Brown, Sr. and Mary Alice Traylor. She was educated in the Gurdon Public Schools in Gurdon, Arkansas.

Richard met the beautiful Mattie Mae and her pretty little girls Gwen, Earnestine, and Sharon. On September 27, 1965, she married Richard Walker and to this union, three children were born Deborah, Melinda, and Ricky. She was a longtime employee of the International Paper Company. She was a part of the generation that counted motherhood as a virtue because a mother knew the difference between a house and a home. So, her golden accomplishment in life was to make a loving home that would produce a tapestry of memories for which her family would forever cherish and relish.

Mattie was a faithful member of Union Grove Baptist Church lending both her time, gifts, and finances to her church. She served as Sunday School Teacher, Mission Board President, and Senior Choir Member.

She lived life to the fullest and always encouraged others to do the same. She inspired many and made life-long friends wherever she went. Her hobbies included sewing, canning, cooking, quilting, plants, and working on her flower beds. Fondly called “E-Mattie” and “Mattie B” by family and friends her home was often the gathering place for delicious meals and sweets. Mattie relocated to Milwaukee with her daughter Gwendolyn. She was cared for by her granddaughters, Yolonda Lashley and Damara Purifoy.

Of all the notable titles and respected positions, she was a super mother, sweet grandmother, proud aunt, and a true friend. She slept peacefully from this world on August 6, 2021. She was preceded in death by husband Richard Walker; daughter Melinda Vance; three grandsons: Hayden Harris, William Harris, De’Willis “Marchello” Young; one great-granddaughter, Nigeria Watson-Roberts; brothers, Alonzo Brown, Ira Brown, Eddie Ray Brown, and RD Brown, Jr.

Because love is far greater than death, her love will continue to live in the hearts of her children: Earnestine Burton and Gwendolyn Harris both of Milwaukee, WI, Debra (Lee) Meadows of Bluff City, AR, Sharon Ingram or Mobile, AL, and Ricky Walker of Camden, AR; 12 grandchildren, 39 great-Grandchildren, and 40 great-great-grandchildren; her beloved sister, Zadie Bragg of Rockford, IL; son-in-law, Rev. Steve Vance; and a sister-in-law, Mary Walker of Gurdon, AR. She also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and her Union Grove Baptist Church Family.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 18, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.at Williams Funeral Home, Arkadelphia. Services will be held graveside on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Billy Hunter, eulogist.