Rachel Spears Walton

Rachel Spears Walton, age 93, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away peacefully at home on March 31, 2025, surrounded by her loving family and devoted caregiver. She was the cherished wife of the late Boyd V. Walton, Jr., to whom she was married for 70 wonderful years.

Born on July 9, 1931, in Linwood, Neshoba County, Mississippi, Rachel attended Linwood Community School, where she met Boyd, the love of her life and best friend. They married on January 20, 1951, just before Boyd began his career with the telephone company, a journey that led them to several cities, including Jackson, Mississippi; Knoxville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; Westfield, New Jersey; Orlando, Florida; and ultimately Birmingham, Alabama, in 1969. Through each move, Rachel’s unwavering support and love created a home filled with warmth and stability for their children, Tommy Wayne and Vickie Carol.

Rachel will be remembered for her kind, gentle spirit and the quiet yet profound way she served her family, friends, and community. Her faith was central to her life, and she was a longtime member of Mountain Brook Baptist Church, where she found joy and fellowship in the Torchbearers Sunday School class. She also dedicated her time as a Pink Lady Volunteer in the newborn nursery at Baptist Montclair Hospital, offering comfort and care to countless babies and their families.

To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was affectionately known as “Sugar” - a name given to her upon the birth of her first grandchild and one that suited her perfectly. She had a special gift for making ordinary moments extraordinary. Whether it was Christmas Eve at Sugar’s house, decorating candy houses, baking cookies, or watching classic "I Love Lucy" episodes during sleepovers, she created memories her family will forever cherish. Her legendary cream cheese pound cake and summers spent together at Lake Martin became beloved traditions. She also lovingly knit baby blankets for each of her great-grandchildren, leaving them with a tangible reminder of her love.

Rachel and Boyd shared a love for travel and adventure, taking their children and grandchildren on unforgettable family trips to The Cloister in Georgia, Moosehead Ranch in Wyoming, skiing in Deer Valley, and Hawaii. They also enjoyed trips to the North Carolina mountains and countless rounds of golf together.

Golf was Rachel’s passion, and she excelled in the sport. She was a member of The Country Club of Birmingham and Willow Point Golf & Country Club, winning the Ladies Club Championship in 1993 and 2004. She and Boyd traveled the world playing golf, and for her 80th birthday, Boyd took her to California to play the iconic Pebble Beach, where she made a remarkable hole-in-one on the 5th hole overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In addition to golf, she had a love for horses, fun hats, the Kentucky Derby, and birdhouses, which she lovingly collected and displayed.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Boyd V. Walton, Jr.; her son, Tommy W. Walton; her parents, Hattie Mae and Lester Spears; and her siblings, Dorothy Spears Kirby, Willard Spears, Shirley Spears Whitehead, Rudolph Spears, Gaytha Spears Wooten, and Paul Spears.

Rachel is survived by her daughter, Vickie Rader (Dave); her daughter-in-law, Kathy Walton; five grandchildren, Lindsay Rader McClellan (Robert), Lacey Rader Simmons (Jeremy), Rachel Walton Knowlton (Keith), Walton Rader (Margaret), and Jonathan Walton; and eighteen great-grandchildren: Olivia, Landon, Lillian, Rhodes, Florie, and Faith McClellan; Savannah and Shiloh Simmons; Ford, Rader, and Rock Russell; Mary Katherine, Henry, Frances, and Crawford Knowlton; and Spears, Grace, and Harris Rader. She is also survived by her brother, Billy Spears, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other cherished family members.

Although their hearts are heavy, Rachel’s family finds comfort in knowing that her faith was strong and her legacy of love and kindness will endure for generations.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Cynthia Goodman, Rachel’s devoted caregiver of nearly two years, for the exceptional care and companionship she provided.

A service for family and close friends will be held at 11 o’clock in the chapel at Mountain Brook Baptist Church on April 4, 2025. The family will receive friends in Hudson Hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, Rachel requested that charitable donations in her memory be made to Big Oak Ranch, an organization dear to her heart.