William Brotherton Walker

William Brotherton Walker, Jr., age 90, passed away Thursday, May 28, 2026, in the Health Center of Westminster Woods at Julington Creek. “Bill” was born in Atlanta, GA to William Brotherton Walker, Sr. and Helen Mae Bradbury from Birmingham, AL on November 26, 1935. He was a “premie” weighing only about two pounds. Helen sent her breast milk to him in the hospital via Western Union. When he was allowed to come home, his first bed was a deep dresser drawer which protected him from winter drafts. His older cousins were allowed only a peek at this strange, tiny, 2-pound baby who had no hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes.

When Bill was twelve, his father was in a serious automobile accident in the Appalachian Mountains. He suffered numerous injuries, including brain damage. Helen stayed in Louisville near the hospital as her husband recovered. Bill went to live in Atlanta with his Aunt Margie, who had several sons, many pets, and a large house and yard on Powers Ferry Road.

When Bill’s father was better, they moved to Macon, GA on Rivoli Road. Bill attended elementary school and graduated from Lanier High School there where he was active in Boy Scouts, attaining the level of Eagle Scout. He was also Editor of the Lanier High School newspaper, for which he won a Freedom’s Foundation Award.

Bill attended Davidson College in NC and Young Harris College in north Georgia, eventually deciding that joining the Army would be the best move for him. After being a private for a while, he decided to apply for Officer Candidate School from which he graduated in the top five, even though he had to drop out at one point to heal from pneumonia. He served at a dental clinic in Germany and helped treat the injured from accidents on the Autobahn. After two years of active duty, Bill decided to complete his college degree by enrolling at Mercer University in his hometown of Macon, GA.

In October he met Dodie McLeod in the snack bar at Mercer. They began dating and were “pinned” by Thanksgiving and engaged by Christmas. Their wedding was in June in her hometown of Swainsboro, GA. The morning of their wedding Bill called his future mother-in-law to tell her he had broken a tooth at breakfast! She called the family dentist who met them at his office to repair Bill’s tooth.

An hour later Bill called her again. One of the groomsmen’s attire packages had no pants or studs. After a few phone calls (small-town Georgia), they had what they needed.

Bill and Dodie lived in Atlanta, a fun place for a young couple. They especially enjoyed “Theatre Under the Stars,” an amphitheater in Chastain Park. In Atlanta they welcomed their first son, William Bradbury (“Brad”) in 1964. They decided to move to Macon in 1966 to be near family and a year later added another son, John McLeod.

In January 1970 Bill resigned from Dow Chemical after eight years as a salesman and joined Marks Surgical Supply of Macon. Soon after, Marks was bought by Owens and Minor, Inc. managed by Hue Thomas. When Hue was promoted to manager of the Atlanta Branch in 1975, Bill became manager of Macon O&M. In 1980 the decision was made to close the Macon office and open a branch in Jacksonville, FL, so the family made the move to Jacksonville. Bill returned to the position of Sales Representative, his true love, in 1983. Since then, he has been selected as Salesman of the Year many times.

Bill and Dodie collected and restored Early American primitive antiques, and for seven years, owned and lived in the John C. Brown House on Mandarin Road.

Bill retired from the Army Reserves with the rank of Colonel after 32 years of service. During that time, he commanded a 750-bed field hospital, a 1000-bed general hospital and served as Chief of Staff for the 818th Hospital Center, which had command and control over all the reserve medical units in Georgia and Florida.

At the age of 41, Bill took up running to control “middle-age spread.” He began competing in races and in 1986 qualified and ran in the Boston Marathon. He has run a total of 28 marathons.

Bill has been a member of Lakewood Presbyterian Church since 1981 and has served as elder in several capacities. His favorite was as head of Buildings and Grounds.

He also has been a member of Rotary International since the 1970’s, attended the International Convention in Amsterdam in the 1980’s, and served as president in the Mandarin club.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Helen Louise Nolan (Sonny). He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dodie McLeod, sons William Bradbury (Suzy) of Yakima, WA and John McLeod (Danielle) of Austin, TX, grandchildren Rachel Walker, Matthew Walker, William Walker (Grace), Jordan Walker (Alia), Elle Walker Shelsby (Gil), and Gracie Walker Peacock (Stephen), three great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

His memorial service will be held at Lakewood Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026 followed by a reception luncheon. Interment will be at the Jacksonville National Cemetery on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the music fund of Lakewood Presbyterian Church, or to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.