Funeral services will be at 11 AM Friday, January 30, 2009 at Crestwood Memorial Chapel for Dr. Jessie L. Walker Jr., age 77, of Glencoe, who died on Tuesday, January 27, 2009. Rev. Roy Moore and Mark Smith will officiate. Burial will be at Crestwood Memorial Cemetery. Crestwood Memorial Funeral Home will direct.
Dr. Walker was a member of the Glencoe Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a veteran of the US Air Force. He was a graduate of Jacksonville State University and he received his masters and doctorate from Auburn University. He retired from Gadsden State Community College as the Academic Director for the Area of Business from 1966 to 1993. He was past president of the Glencoe Civitan Club, past president of the Alabama Association for Higher Education in Business, he was the long time advisor of the student group Phi Beta Lambda and he was active in numerous charitable activities and civic groups. He was an avid gardener.
He was preceded in death by his infant son: Timothy Lee Walker; parents: Jessie L. Walker Sr. and Jimmie Franklin Walker; brothers: Harvey and Leroy Walker.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years: Doris Coley Walker; children: Jeff (Maria) Walker, West Palm Beach, FL and Melanie (Herb) Ford, Glencoe; brothers: Frank (Sue) Walker, Stockbridge, GA and Arnold (Ann) Walker, Hokes Bluff; sisters: Marie (A.P.) Coley, Glencoe and Margie (Bobby) Cooper, Huntsville; grandchildren: Alyssa, Jordan and Jadyen Walker, Justin, Jake and Jeff Ford; Drs. Jim and Beth Prucnal and special grandchildren: Amy and Kelly Prucnal; numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the Glencoe Cumberland Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 200 N. College St. Glencoe, AL 35905 or Dr. Jessie Walker Scholarship Fund at Gadsden State Community College, P.O. Box 227 Gadsden, AL 35902.
Pallbearers will be Justin Ford, Jake Ford, Jeff Ford, Jordan Walker, Jeff Stanley, Jon Coley, Tommy Coley, Willie Maise and Joe Nabors.
Family will receive friends from 5pm to 7pm tonight at the funeral home.