Fred Walker

Freddie (Fred) Walker, 89, of Jacksonville FL, entered Heaven on Saturday, May 4, 2024. He was born in Harrisburg, Illinois on November 12, 1934 one of 11 children of Samuel and Emma Walker. He grew up in the southern Illinois town of Chester.

After graduating from Chester High School, he worked at American Steel & Wire and then joined the Army in 1957, serving 2 years active duty followed by 4 years in the Army Reserves as a Ham Radio Operator Specialist. He received commendations for Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Good Conduct Medal. He was Honorably Discharged in 1963 with the rank of Sergeant.

After his military service he returned to his job at American Steel & Wire near Waukegan, IL. He joined a small church in the area where he met Betty Akery, a summer missionary from Carrollton, GA who was serving at the church. They realized they had a ministry calling in common, began dating and were married December 19, of 1959.

They pursued their college education together at Truett McConnell Junior College, and graduated from East Texas Baptist College. They each earned their seminary degrees (Master Of Divinity and Master of Religious Education) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. During their college and seminary years, Fred pastored churches in Georgia, Texas and Missouri. Upon graduating seminary, they were appointed as international missionaries by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, serving as church planters in Kenya, Tanzania, and later to the island of Dominica in the southern Caribbean. Over the next 28 years, Fred and Betty shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ to remote villages in East Africa and the Caribbean, starting churches and impacting many lives for Christ.

After retirement, Fred and Betty returned stateside and eventually moved to Jacksonville to be near family. Fred and Betty celebrated 64 years of marriage last December. Since moving to Jacksonville, Fred had been a member at San Jose Baptist Church and then Neptune Baptist Church in Neptune Beach. He enjoyed worshipping and studying the Bible with his friends at church and spending time with his family. He also enjoyed leading teams from his church on several short term mission trips to Dominica to partner with the churches they had started.

Fred is remembered as a man who genuinely loved God and loved people. His kindness and winsome personality endeared many people to him. Even in retirement, his love for the churches and people he pastored over the years remained strong. His life exemplified the Scripture in Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

He is preceded in death by parents Samuel and Emma Walker, siblings Robert Walker (Ruby), Virginia Boyett (Kenneth), Billie Walker (Imogene), Jack Walker (Betty), Barbara Drysdale (Douglas), Frank Walker (Donna), Glen Walker (Mary Ann), Evadine Waltemate (Donald).

He is survived by wife Betty Walker, son Alan Walker (Amy), grandchildren Jacob and Jessica, and sisters Mary McAdams (Harry) and Freda Berry (Robert).

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Neptune Baptist Church, 407 3rd St, Neptune Beach FL, at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 31st. Interment will be at the National Cemetery on Jacksonville’s northside following the service at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the International Mission Board and Community Hospice

https://www.imb.org/generosity/

https://thefoundationcares.org/give/

LIVESTREAM OPTIONS:

Fred Walker Memorial Page (Facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/473467728583171/

Neptune Baptist Church Livestream (Facebook or YouTube)

https://neptunebaptist.org/livestream