Bessie Walker

Bessie Brown Walker was born on January 1, 1952 in Mangham, Louisiana to Deloris Brown and the late Herbert Lee Armstrong. Bessie was raised by her grandparents Minnie and Edward Lyons of Mangham, Louisiana. Bessie was baptized at an early age of 9, where she joined St. Matthews Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. A. W. Watkin. She attended Alto High School until her school was integrated in the early 1960s, she then had to move to another school which was Mangham High School where she graduated. While attending Mangham High School she played basketball and sang with the high school choir.

In 1979 Bessie became a mother for the first time to a beautiful son, Orell Jr. She worked very hard to support her first born by working in many homes taking care of the sick. In the years to follow, she had three more children, Yolanda, Nacole & Patrick. It was during this time that she realized her calling and attended nursing school at Ron Bradley in Jena, Louisiana. Upon completing her training, she worked at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Columbia, Louisiana for five years. She then worked at Citizen Memorial Hospital for five years where her boss always commented on how good a worker she was. Ms. Walker was promoted to Heaven Home Health and worked until 2005 when she began having health issues.

Bessie leaves to cherish her loving memory mother Deloris Laster and four beautiful children, Orell Jr., Yolanda (Dolphis) Bouie, Nicole (Eric) Johnson and Patrick Walker. Two sisters Diane (Pat) Brown whom preceded her in death, and Shirley Rena Brown of Monroe, Louisiana. Three brothers, Calvin (Uvette) Francis of Las Vegas, Nevada, Levell (Rosie) Weathers, of Tallulah, Louisiana and Larry Brown of Monroe, Louisiana. A special niece Tammy Brown of Monroe, Louisiana. Seven grandchildren, Dolphis J. Bouie III, Jimmie Ray Bouie, Dolton Bouie, Dalphiny Bouie, Destany Bouie, Ladarrius Walker, Alayshia Walker (whom she raised), Eri’una Johnson, and Zairah Walker and a host of nieces and nephews.