Louise Varnadoe Walker

Louise Varnadoe Walker, 90, of Tifton, passed away peacefully at Golden Living Rehab Center Monday, August 08, 2016.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 12, 2016 at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Tifton with Dr. Wayne Roe and Rev. Paul Thomas officiating. Interment will be in Oakridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6-8 PM at Albritton Funeral Directors.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Woodard, Rob Flick, Brian Lewis, Walker Lewis, Jonathan Walker, Lamar Walker, William White and John White.

Mrs. Walker, a longtime Tifton resident, was born April 07, 1926 in Doerun, Ga. She was the daughter of Robert Julian Varnadoe and Mildred Hudson Varnadoe, both deceased. Mrs. Walker also was preceded in death by her husband, James M. Walker Jr. who died September 30, 2000; three sisters, Doris V. Selph, Elouise V. Oliver, and Bobbie V. Walker; a brother, Robert Julian Varnadoe  Jr.; her special stepmother, Grace Cooper Varnadoe and son-in-law, Jeff Gill.

Mrs. Walker grew up in Brooksville, Florida and moved to Tifton for her senior year, graduating from Tift County High School.  She married James M. Walker, Jr. on June 22, 1947. They were blessed with three children, two daughters and a son, Nancy Walker Woodard, James M. Walker III and Jill Walker Flick.

Mrs. Walker adored her family and loved being a wife, mother, and homemaker. Beach vacations were special times for her with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She especially loved cooking for her family and sharing her delicious cakes and brownies with special friends.  Her love of the outdoors was evident in her gardening.  She enjoyed working in her yard and sharing her plants with family and friends.  Her flowers were beautiful, and she used them often in her arrangements.

Mrs. Walker was an active member of First Baptist Church where she was a preschool director and teacher for over fifty years.  Children brought her so much joy as she shared the love of Jesus with them. Mrs. Walker, along with her late husband, also was involved in the outreach ministry to shut-ins and elderly members of the church.  She dedicated her time, energy and love to the Girls in Action program as well.  As a member of the flower and decorating committee, she used her talents to arrange many beautiful flowers for special events.

Survivors include her three children, her daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Clint Woodard of Metter; a son, James M. Walker, III of Tifton; and a daughter, Jill Walker Flick of Tifton; a sister, Rhonda V. White of Tifton; four grandchildren, Angela Lewis (Brian) of Duluth, Ryan Woodard (Michelle) of Tifton, Julie Wade of Guyton, and Rob Flick of Tifton; six great-grandchildren, Walker Lewis, Taylor Lewis, Carley Wade, Abby Wade, Caroline Woodard, and Haley Woodard and several nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.