Nanette Abena Walker

Born on October 21, 1947, in Dayton, Ohio. She was the second of three daughters born to Ruth Ann (Brown) and Leon Edward Roberts. She was educated in the Dayton Public School and graduated from Roth High School in 1965. She entered Ohio University during the turbulent times on college campuses.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Education and completing a year of graduate school, in 1970 she was recruited to teach at Federal City College in Washington D.C. She has resided in the D.C., Maryland area since that time.

In addition to teaching, she increased her poetry writing and began performing in various forums including radio and TV appearances. She co-founded four schools including the African Learning Center, her family’s community school that was an outgrowth of home schooling of her three children, Kwaku Jr., Yaa and Akua.

Her educational contributions continued when she founded in 1982 the Pan- African University that offered Adult Initiation/Master’s Degree program in African Education. She was also the founder and principal of Bethune-Woodson African Center Model School, the first and only African-centered school in the D.C. Public School System from 1993 to 1998.

Over the last five decades in addition to the countless poetry performances, she also wrote books of poetry, including “Word Magic” and “My Father’s Tree Forever Grows”. Her last published book,” Beyond Theory: A Blueprint To Implement African- Centered Education” in 2019 is her legacy statement outlining the methods she has developed, utilized and validated in her long educational career.

Nanette was preceded in death by her parents and older sister, Michaele Ann Roberts (2010). She was married for 25 years to Kwaku Walker Sr. Those left to mourn and also to celebrate her life and accomplishments are her 3 children: Kwaku Walker Jr, Bowie, Maryland, Yaa (Quincy) Stanley, Chi., Il., Akua (Torrence) Oxendine, Upper Marlboro, Md, sister: Jan Roberts (Gerry Torrence), Chicago, Il., 7 grandchildren: Dymon Walker, Chelbi Bell, Chelsi Walker, Kwaku Walker III, Kiden Walker, Jaden Stanley, Greysen Stanley, niece, Rhonda McFarland; first cousins, Hazel Haney, Ulma Jones and Charlette Finch, and additional relatives and friends.