George Brown Walker

After a two year battle with ALS, George Brown Walker, 64, of Mint Hill, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026 surrounded by the love of his family. With his characteristic mental toughness and strength, George faced his illness stoically and courageously, his primary concern always for his wife Elizabeth and her future well-being. George touched countless lives as a teacher, coach, runner, and friend. Everyone loved George. People were better for knowing him, and he will be remembered for his quiet strength, a goofy sense of humor, a generous and kind spirit, and a deep loyalty to those he loved.

Born on November 8, 1961, in Charleston, South Carolina, George was the son of Eleanor Williams Burnisky and the stepson of Gary Lee Burnisky. George’s parents instilled in him a strong faith and raised him to be good and kind.

A proud graduate of Independence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, George went on to earn a history degree from UNC–Wilmington, where he competed on the university’s cross country team. His exceptional collegiate running career later earned him a place in UNC–Wilmington’s Athletic Hall of Fame for cross country. After college, George continued to run competitively for several years. Among his proudest achievements was winning the 1986 Charlotte Observer Marathon - it was the first marathon he had ever competed in, and he was the first North Carolinian to win it. He finished with a time of 2:22:05, which qualified him for the Olympic Trials. Even after his competitive days ended, George remained an avid runner, cherishing lifelong friendships formed through training and racing.

George’s other great calling was teaching. For nearly three decades, he taught American History at Independence High School where he and his sister Brenda had once been students themselves. George’s extensive knowledge of U.S. history, especially concerning the presidents, was legendary among his students and colleagues. He also coached track and cross country for many years, inspiring his student athletes with encouragement and enthusiasm. Even after he stopped coaching at school, he continued to help runners with their training. His final coaching job was from the sickbed, where he advised his nephew Lawson on preparing for the 2025 Berlin Marathon. Though George retired from teaching in 2013, he continued to serve as a substitute teacher for almost ten more years, remaining a dedicated supporter of the school he so loved. During his illness, George often said that one of the things he missed the most was working with students. On August 20, 2025, at an outdoor ceremony attended by his family, friends, and former colleagues and students, Independence High School honored his legacy by naming its track The George Walker Memorial Track, and the Mayor of Mint Hill declared August 20 as George Walker Day.

It was at Independence High School in 2001 that George met Elizabeth, his teaching colleague in the Social Studies Department and future wife. They were married in June of 2004 in Elizabeth’s sister’s backyard, in a small wedding ceremony made extra special when Elizabeth’s seven-year-old son Caleb, assisted by his cousin Burke, transported the wedding rings across the yard to the bride and groom via remote control truck. Married for over twenty-one years, George and Elizabeth shared a life filled with laughter, shared interests, and good-natured teasing. They were admittedly a couple of nerds who loved to discuss school, history, and current events. After retirement, they began traveling overseas together—adventures they had looked forward to continuing for years to come before George became ill.

George loved to read nonfiction and always had his nose in a book, but he was also a talented writer and storyteller. As editor of the university newspaper during college, he honed his gift for words and humor. In later years, he delighted his family, friends and former students with witty and sometimes bizarre stories posted on Facebook, such as his tales of his “Journey to the Fourth Dimension,” his harrowing encounters with lightning, his adventure in sky diving, “The HVAC Office Runner’s Club,” and his experience as a repo man. These stories were thoroughly enjoyed by his readers along with his popular weekly feature, “Things I’ve Learned Recently.”

George was famous among family and friends for his terrible sense of direction and for frequently losing his keys, which he would carry around without a fob or keychain. He lost so many of these keys, usually on the running trail or at his mother’s house, that he found it necessary to keep a stash of replicas. The good news is that as he journeyed to heaven, George didn’t have to worry about getting lost or losing his keys. Heavenly light shone the way for him, and Christ held its door wide open, laced up and ready to go with him for a run. Because now in heaven, George Walker can run again.

George is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth Smith Walker; his stepson, Jeffrey Caleb Canipe, and daughter-in-law, Anna Burrows Canipe; his sister, Brenda Walker Lloyd, and brother-in-law, Thierolf Lloyd; his nephew, Lawson Lloyd and Lawson’s partner Greta Korner. He is also survived by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ronald and Virginia Smith; his brothers-in-law, Matthew Smith, Randy Romero, and Jeffrey Taylor; his sister-in-law, Constance Taylor; his nephews, Burke Taylor and Aidan Taylor; his aunt, Cheryl Kornichuk Williams; and his cousin, Tiffany Williams Fragomeni and her husband, Joseph Fragomeni and their two sons Joseph and Tyler; his uncle, Howard T. Williams; his aunt, Irene Williams Sowton; his cousin, Colleen Williams Mussell and her husband, Douglas Mussell; his cousin, Carolyn Burnisky Prato and her husband, Ed Prato; and several more cousins on both the Williams and Burnisky sides of the family.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Howard E. Williams and Mary Longo Williams; his mother, Eleanor Williams Burnisky; his stepfather, Gary Lee Burnisky; his aunt, Shirley Williams Hill; his uncle, Ronald G. Williams; his aunt, Regina Williams Besoni; and his uncle, John J. Williams.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 1:00 pm, at St. Luke Catholic Church in Mint Hill. Following the memorial service, a reception in honor of George will take place at 2:30 pm at Morning Star Lutheran Church, 12509 Idlewild Road, Matthews, North Carolina 28105.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Joe Martin ALS Foundation and to the Independence High School Booster Club.