By Staff
Mr. James Carl “Bunky/Jimmy” Walker, 68, of 306 W. Main St., Plymouth, died Monday, March 10, 2008, at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville.
A funeral will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, March 15, 2008 at the Eastern North Carolina Assembly with Elder Daniel Gilliam officiating. Burial will follow in Toodle’s Cemetery.
James Carl Walker was born in New York City, New York, in the “Heart of Harlem,” on February 2, 1940, and entered heaven’s gates on March 10, 2008.
More affectionately and popularly known to some as “Bunky” and “Jimmy” to others, he was the only child of Harry and Alice Louise Bratts-Walker who preceded him in death.
He was united in Holy matrimony to Jean Carol Shim Walker.
He received his formal education at the Plymouth “Colored” School. James graduated from Union High School in Roper as a top all-around student, finishing first in his class.
He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina with a B.S. Degree in Natural Science, finishing as valedictorian of his class, received both the college math and chemistry awards, cited in Who’s Who among Students in American Colleges and Universities, and became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
James had a meritorious teaching career in excess of twenty committed and dedicated years beginning at his former high school.
As his awards record shows, he was “an outstanding math teacher and a highly successful basketball coach” in Roper, and Hartford, Connecticut.
He matriculated at The University of Hartford where he received a certificate of “Excellence in Diagnostic/Prescriptive Teaching.”
James vacated the classroom to continue his instantaneous rise in the Postal Service as a “result-oriented manager” in Hartford, Connecticut. He was a certified instructor in the Supervisory Training System for both Mail-Processing and Human Resources/Administration. He virtually supervised every mail-processing operation, designed and implemented a career resource center as a Training and Development Specialist, and received special achievement awards including “Employee of the Month,” for his abilities.
Upon returning to Plymouth, to care for his mother, his professional, religious, and civic affiliations included: becoming the first African-American Postmaster in Washington County; being a member of Spring Green Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) where he served as Church Treasurer, Bible Studies Instructor, Sunday School Superintendent, board member of Martin-Tyrrell-Washington County Health Department; lifetime member of the Plymouth Branch of the NAACP; member of Precinct Three Washington County Democratic Party.
Those who survive to mourn his loss are: his sons, Dwayne Franklin Shim Walker, Hartford, Conn.; Darryl Fitzgerald Walker (Regina) of Brooklyn, N.Y.; thirteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a first cousin who is considered a brother, Samuel Davis, Franklin, N.J.; two dear friends, Merion Anderson and Patsy Cox and many other cousins and friends.
James C. Walker felt that African-Americans must keep “Roots” and “Black History” forever etched in their minds as a constant reminder of the price that was paid for today’s available opportunities.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Toodle’s Funeral Home, Plymouth.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the James Carl Walker Scholarship Fund, c/o Dwayne F. Shim-Walker, at 140 Hawthorn St., Hartford, CT 06105.
Arrangements by Toodle’s Funeral Home, Plymouth.
Paid Obituary