Ministerial Directory
W. J. Walker - Newmarket, Ala.
Robert
Donnell Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1906, pages 184a]
WALKER.--Rev. W. J. Walker, who died
June 9, 1909, at his home near Plevna, Ala., was born December
16, 1847; professed religion when a boy and united with the church.
He was ordained to the gospel ministry by the old Tennessee Presbytery
in 1879; became a member of the Robert
Donnell Presbytery when it was formed by the union of
a portion of the Tennessee Presbytery and the Jackson Presbytery,
and later on a member of the Presbytery of Huntsville by the union
of the Robert
Donnell and McGrady presbyteries. As Brother Walker spent
the most of life in the bounds of this presbytery, he was not
as well known perhaps by the church at large as some others that
traveled around more; still Brother Walker's life and labors counted
for much, as is shown by an extract from the record of one year's
work: In 1894 he preached 272 sermons, witnessed 684 conversions
and received 314 members into the church. Brother Walker was a
very faithful worker, traveled much on horseback across the mountains
and valleys, preaching the gospel in many destitute places. Brother
Walker was wonderfully gifted in conducting revival meetings in
hard places and in getting old neighborhood feuds settled, and
uniting the people in Christian work and in reaching and leading
to Christ old, hardened sinners that were considered by others
hopeless cases. In a meeting when others gave out he seemed to
be just at his best, literally going day and night for weeks at
a time. He laid himself a living sacrifice on the altar, and God
blessed him in the salvation of hundreds and perhaps thousands
of souls. Brother Walker seldom missed a meeting of the presbytery,
always on time, and it was the rule of his life to stay till the
close. A man of strong convictions, he took a position on a question
and maintained it with zeal and energy. In the death of Brother
Walker this part of the church lost an earnest, faithful worker.
The funeral services were conducted in his old home church at
Hickory Flat by his lifetime friend and fellow-worker, Rev. W.
W. Thompson, assisted by Rev. A. H. Manly, of New Market, and
Rev. W. B. Witherspoon of Huntsville, Ala., in the midst of a
large and sorrowing congregation of relatives and friends. Brother
Walker left a devoted wife and eight children to lament their
loss. His oldest son, Rev.
H. L. Walker, is in charge of our church at Blocton, Ala.--W.
W. Thompson.
[Source: The Cumberland
Presbyterian, September 2, 1909, pages 319]
Necrology
Name: Walker, William Jasper
Occupation: S.S. [Stated Supply]
Presbytery: Huntsville
Place of Death: Pleona, Ala.
Date: June 29, 1909
Age: 62[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America., 1910, page 291]