Mrs. Evan Walker Sr Passes Away At Home Here

Madison was saddened by the passing of one of the town's beloved women and representative citizens, Wednesday afternoon, October 5, when Mrs. Evan Lawrence Walker Sr. passed away quietly at her home after an illness of some months.

Mrs. Walker, the former Florence Shepherd, was born and reared in this county, being a descendant of pioneer families in Putnam and Morgan Counties. She was the daughter of Robert Whitfield Shepherd and Mary Page Moseley Shepherd, and was one of five children. Her grandfather, Carter Shepherd, a prominent man of the county, built the old Colonial Carter Shepherd home on Second Street, but later moved his family to their country home, another substantial homeplace, in the county. Here his children and grandchildren were reared, and this was the girlhood home of Florence Shepherd.

She attended the old Normal School in Athens, and thereafter taught school in her community where she was a beloved teacher, and her influence widely felt. On August 23, 1905 Florence Shepherd was married to Evan Lawrence Walker, and to them two sons and a daughter were born.

Mrs. Walker was a consistent member of the Madison Baptist Church, and from 25 to 30 years was a valued teacher in the Sunday school. She was a member of, and interested in, the patriotic work of the Gasaway Knight Chapter of Daughters of the Confederacy. But above all, she was a homemaker and a devoted member of her family, loved by her neighbors and many friends. In the passing of Florence Shepherd Walker, the town loses a representative citizen and a gracious gentle woman of the old school.

Mrs. Walker was preceded in death some years ago by her husband, the last Evan L. Walker, and two brothers, Robert W. Shepherd and Carter Shepherd. She is survived by one daughter, Miss Mary Page Walker of Atlanta and Madison, and two sons, Evan L. Walker and Bryan Walker, well-known businessmen of Madison, and by two grandchildren, Lynn and Alan Walker, and by two sisters, Mrs. L.H. Walker, Sr., Madison, and Mrs. Robert W.(sic) Davis, Atlanta, and by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were conducted at the home Friday October 2 at 3 p.m. with the Rev. J.P. Sheffield officiating. Mrs. L.C. Mitchell sang an old favorite hymn, "Lead Kindly Light." The pall bearers, nephews and close friends were Messrs. S.I. Walker, L.H. Walker, Robert W. Walker, Carter Shepherd, and Robert F. Davis, Dr. E.O. White, Joel Eidson, and Ben Bolton.

Interment was in the family lot in Madison Cemetery, where Mrs. Walker was laid to rest under a blanket of flowers, tributes of her many friends and loved ones, with W.C. Hemperley, Funeral Director, in charge.