Laura Jeanne Walker

Laura Jeanne Francisco Walker passed away peacefully at The Sheridan at Eastside—A Senior Lifestyle Community, Snellville, Georgia on July 30, 2025 at the age of 92. She was born on March 10, 1933 in Orlando, Florida where she graduated from Orlando High School and attended Orlando Junior College. At Orlando High School, Jeanne was active in the Honor Society, was Senior Class President and a member of the National Federation League (debate team). Upon graduation from OHS in 1951, she married Graham Brown Walker. During Graham’s U.S. Army service in the Korean War, they lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia. Returning to Orlando, she and Graham became parents of four children from 1956 to 1963. Jeanne devoted her work to parenting, homemaking, and contributing to First Baptist Church of Orlando, Sunday School, Training Union and Women’s Missionary Union. Later, she became Regional Manager of Sales for World Book Encyclopedia in central Florida. In 1969, Jeanne and Graham became Southern Baptist Missionaries to Singapore where she lived for 28 years. Her work there included establishing church nurseries and pre-school programs, teaching English and founding the Great Joy Media Centre. She produced the Chinese language film series “Blessed Family.” Jeanne also established an English language program for nursing students from China. Retiring to Longwood, Florida in 1998, Jeanne enjoyed teaching English as a second language, nurturing community through “China Bridge Connections”, and working with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Missions committee at The Church on the Drive in College Park, Florida. She delighted in the wildlife of Wekiwa Springs in her backyard. In 2017, Jeanne and Graham moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee to be closer to family. There she enjoyed engaging with family, the community of St. Elmo United Methodist Church, flower arranging, and gardening. In 2021, Jeanne and Graham moved to Snellville, Georgia, their final home. They became members of the Church at Ponce and Highland and supported mission work at the Mayan Intercultural Seminary in Chiapas, Mexico. At Sheridan Senior Living Community, Jeanne, also known as Laura, enjoyed a welcoming community where she spread love, joy and beauty each day.

Jeanne is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Graham Brown Walker (2022), her mother, Sammie Belcher Francisco (2005), her father, Hugh Donald Francisco Sr. (1977), her brothers Hugh Donald Francisco Jr. (2024) and James Farris Francisco (2004) and is survived by her family: sisters Judith Francisco Dwyer (Tim) of Tennessee and Katherine Francisco Tosh (Fred) of Georgia, children Graham Brown Walker, Jr. (Mimi) of Atlanta, Laura Susan Walker (Carol) of Birmingham, David Marshall Walker (Susan) of Montgomery, and Amy Walker Coleman (Jim) of Chattanooga, along with 7 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.

The family invites you to a memorial service on Saturday, November 22, 11:00AM (Eastern Time, UTC -5) at Church at Ponce and Highland, 1085 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, Ga 30306. The service will be livestreamed on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/churchatponceandhighland

and linked through YouTube afterward.

Memorial gifts in her honor may be given the Church at Ponce and Highland through a secure link at: https://www.churchatponceandhighland.org/donate/

Designate your gift for the “Mayan Intercultural Seminary” in the link.