Ludlow Walker

Ludlow Cunliffe Walker, Sr. was born on May 31st, 1936 at a midwife’s house in Kingston, Jamaica. He was the firstborn of three children born to parents John Sidney Walker and Ivy May (Solomon) Walker. Following his years in primary school, Ludlow became a member of the Cadet Corps at the age of twelve. He received his diploma from Central Branch High School in Jamaica. After graduating high school, Ludlow worked one year as an accountant before joining the merchant marines in Jamaica. He worked his way up to Third Navigating Officer during those years.

During that time, while on a three-month vacation, Ludlow was permitted a vacation visa to the U.S. where he traveled to New York City and met up with a cousin who shared a barber shop with the stepfather of a young woman, Millicent Emily James, whom Ludlow would eventually meet and later marry.

Ludlow and Millicent were married December 10th, 1961 at St. Martin’s Church in Harlem, New York City. They lived briefly in Brooklyn, New York. Ludlow left the Merchant Marines as it was hard for Millicent to adapt to his long absences. He landed a job working for Pan American Airlines at JFK Airport in New York City. The couple later relocated to nearby Queens, New York, close to the Airport where they lived for several years before the birth of their first child, daughter, Dawn Ludette Walker. Despite his success at Pan American, Ludlow saw opportunities to achieve greater economic success elsewhere: Belize, Central America. While still in the U.S., Ludlow bought land in the small country and invested for a few years before relocating his family to a region fifteen miles south of Belize City called Tropical Park. Several years later, the couple welcomed their second child, Ludlow Cunliffe Walker, Jr. Still, in spite of achieving success as a respected businessman and civic leader, his marriage suffered. Millicent left Belize with the children and returned to the U.S where she settled with her extended family in South Florida. She later filed for divorce. Ludlow discovered the emptiness of worldly pursuits and the truth of Jesus’ timeless words, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). On March 8th, 1981, those words of Jesus led Ludlow to placing his trust in the one true Hope of the world, Jesus Christ. The Mennonite missionaries in the nearby village of Hattieville would soon play a major role in Ludlow’s discipleship and training.

Shortly after his conversion, Ludlow was led of God to sell his motel business and return to the U.S. - South Florida was his destination. Millicent, who also got saved after leaving Ludlow, would later credit her relationship with Jesus as having played a crucial role in the couple’s reconciliation. They later re-married several years later. Both Ludlow and Millicent were a couple whose deep Faith in their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, would impact their two children as well. Dawn and Ludlow, Jr., would eventually experience salvation in Jesus. Ludlow was known for his bold witness for Christ and his primary call as an evangelist for the Gospel of Jesus Christ became well-known in many Mennonite circles. He was a faithful evangelist of the Gospel also having served as pastor and teacher of Southmost Mennonite Church for almost 40 years. Ludlow’s ministry included many travels – both domestic and international. He had a special place in his heart for the the mariners and workers on commercial vessels and cruise ships (“Shipwatch”) which hearkened back to his early days as a merchant marine.

Ludlow passed into Glory on November 19, 2025. He is survived by his three children, Dawn, Ludlow, Jr., and Jeremy; daughter-in-law, Tameeka Law-Walker; grandson, Solomon Dean Walker; sister-in-law, Gertrude Harrison; a host of extended family in Florida, California, Georgia, Tennessee, and Jamaica, as well as the many SMC congregants and fellow believers in the body of Jesus Christ.