Queen Walker
Obituary
Queen Esther Farrish Walker, born January 15, 1935 in Roxboro, North Carolina departed this life here on earth on Monday, June 28, 2021. She was the 8thchild of the late Pearl Salina Bradsher and the late John Henry Farrish, Jr. She was a member of a very close-knit family with 9 siblings (1 brother and 8 sisters). She was well known to be very mischievous.
In 1952, Queen graduated from Person County Training (High) School where she was crowned Miss Person County in her senior year. Following high school, Queen attended Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics. During her senior year as a “Bennett Belle,” she was crowned Miss Bennett where she wore an incredible gown that she designed and made herself. Seamstress extraordinaire!
It was during her Bennett years that she met the love of her life, George Willard Walker. She served as the motivation for numerous trips across the railroad tracks from North Carolina A&T State University as George told her on the day he met her that he was going to marry her. Queen and George were married on August 15, 1959 where they began a journey for a lifetime. While George was attending dental school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, Queen worked as the dietician. She took pride in making sure there were hot buttered biscuits in the dining hall every morning. Several years after George opened his dental practice in Raleigh, North Carolina, Queen made a selfless decision to work with him as his receptionist and chairside assistant. This incredible working relationship was a clear demonstration of her love for her husband and her willingness to support him in every way she could, even if it meant changing her career path. From this union, two children were born, LaNetta and Berdenia. Even as a mother, Queen continued to run the dental office until they both retired.
In 2015, Queen moved to Bowie, Maryland to be closer to her daughters. She joined the Collington Senior Living Community where she enjoyed socializing with her friends in the Ivy room and attending various events throughout the community and the Bowie area. Her infectious smile, fabulous outfits, and contagious laughter filled the hallways at Collington each and every day.
Queen was a dedicated and faithful Christian. She always served from her heart. She was a dedicated member of the Raleigh Chapter of Delicados, Inc., a Silhouette of the Raleigh Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Archousa of the Gamma Sigma Boule’ of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. It was through these organizations that she dedicated time to serve the community. Queen annually participated in the Alzheimer’s Association walk and the Children’s National Race for Every Child. She was an incredible wife, mother, and friend. Queen would always work her magic and decorate a room to perfection only to move into the background requesting absolutely no acknowledgement. She used her phenomenal cooking skills in the kitchen to recreate any meal from any fine dining restaurant that you could imagine. Many of you had the chance to experience those famous hot rolls! Queen’s life is an example of how God intended for us to be of service to one another.
Queen was preceded in death by her husband, George (Jimmy); her sisters Berdenia Farrish and Zelma Johnson; her brothers-in-law Joseph Sparrow and Albert Spruill; and her sister-in-law Flossie Cunningham. She leaves to cherish her memories and mourn her absence here on earth her two daughters, LaNetta Wilson (Howard) and Berdenia Stanley (Thomas); her two grandsons Brandon Wilson and Jared Wilson (fiancée Kierra); her granddaughters Briana Stanley, Tori Stanley, and Sania Stanley; her brother Floyd Farrish; her sisters Pecolia McBroom, Mary Brown, Floydelia Spruill, Marvelean Sparrow, Barbara Green (Joe), and Demetris Hendrix; and her two brothers-in-law, Ossie L. Cunningham, Jr. (Nadine) and Shelred Cunningham; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
Memorial Service: 1:00 PM, Friday, July 16, 2021 at Lea Funeral Home Chapel, 2500 Poole Road, Raleigh, NC.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made Children’s Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Queen:
Childrens National Link for the Race
http://giving.childrensnational.org/goto/ForMom
Alzheimer’s Association Link for the Cure
https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid=693214&fr_id=1060&pg=fund
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