Betty Jo Walker – Obituary

Betty Jo Walker of Givens Highland Farms in Black Mountain, North Carolina joined the Church Triumphant on July 19, 2017. Jo was born in Robeson County (North Carolina) on March 23, 1931 to T.J. McCormick, Sr. and Annie McCormick. She grew up in Rowland, North Carolina and attended school there and also Dillon (South Carolina) High School where she graduated in 1949. She attended Queens College for two years prior to going to Rhodes College in Memphis where she graduated in 1953 with a BA degree in Sociology. She continued her education by going to Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia where she earned a Masters of Christian Education degree. It was while she was in Richmond that she met her husband, Joe Walker, who was a student at Union Theological Seminary. They were married in 1955. During their marriage, Joe was pastor of a church in Selma, North Carolina for two years. They went to Edinburgh, Scotland for a year while Joe did graduate work. The couple then went to Maxton, North Carolina, Decatur, Alabama and to Memphis, Tennessee. Betty Jo was a very supportive and valued partner in his ministry. Betty Jo was a stay at home Mom until their three daughters were in school. Then Betty Jo went to work for the Department of Social Services in Alabama, a job she loved. When the couple moved to Memphis, Betty Jo went to the University of Tennessee School of Social Work and earned a Master of Science and Social Work degree (MSSW). She held membership in the Academy of Certified Social Workers. She worked as the director of the Social Work Department at William Bowld Hospital, the teaching hospital for the UT Medical Center. She also worked with the UT Dialysis Center. After moving to Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1984 she worked at Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville. She also worked for the Methodist Home for Children doing in home family therapy for a year. Upon retirement in 1993, Joe and Betty Jo moved to North Myrtle Beach for eight years. Betty Jo was active in First Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach where she served as a deacon and was active in the Women’s Circles. She was a Hospice Volunteer for Horry County (South Carolina). Betty Jo and Joe moved to Givens Highland Farms in Black Mountain, North Carolina in 2001 and have loved it. She has served as an elder and deacon in the Black Mountain Presbyterian Church and has been a volunteer for Swannanoa Valley Christina Ministry.

Betty Jo and Joe have three wonderful daughters who bring much joy and love into their lives. Debbie Dunn lives in Swannanoa, North Carolina, Jan Walker lives in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina and Jennifer Haire lives in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina. Betty Jo was a loving mother and a grandmother. Betty Jo leaves behind a brother, T.J. McCormick, Jr. of Hamer, South Carolina and his wife, Betty; three grandsons, David and Wesley Haire of Fuquay Varina and Clint Dunn of Swannanoa; two nieces, Jean McCormick of Cheraw, South Carolina, Laura Baake of Lubbock, Texas and nephews, Andrew Acklen of Mobile, Alabama, John Acklen of Sequoia, Washington and Bill McCormick of Columbia, South Carolina. Throughout her life, Betty Jo brought joy to those around her. She had a steadfast faith in God and love for others.