Dr. Thomas H. Walker of Madison, AL, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his
side on December 24, 2020, at the age of 86. He was born in Smith County, MS, to Chester
and Minnie Walker on April 30, 1934, and was the youngest of seven children.
Thomas earned a B.A. from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS, and masters
and doctorate from The Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. A Southern Baptist
pastor for more than sixty years, Thomas was the founder
and pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Greenville, MS,
the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Charlestown, IN, and the
Chatham Baptist Church in Springfield, IL. Dr. Walker also pastored
churches in Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He served on numerous
boards within his denomination. In addition to his pastoral ministry,
Dr. Walker taught Sociology at the Paducah campus
of the University of Kentucky.
Thomas is survived by his wife of 68 years Faye Carnes Walker,
three daughters Tammy Owens (Michael), Melanie Hawkins (Bob),
and Sally Rupp (Ron), and his brother Hilbun Walker (Dahlia). His
life was also blessed with five grandchildren Elizabeth Griffith and
her fiancé James Lomax, Caitlin Griffith, Jordan King, Jonathan
Whalley, Ashley King, as well as his beloved canine companion
Sawyer.
Thomas will be remembered by his family and friends as a
Believer in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and as an honest, giving,
caring, funny, and determined man who was beloved by each and
every life that he touched during the time that God blessed him
with on this side of heaven. His parting desire would be for each
of us to know and experience the love of Christ so that one day we
could enjoy the peace that he is enjoying this very day in paradise.
Visitation with social distancing protocols will be held on
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at Berryhill
Funeral Home in Huntsville, AL, followed by a private family graveside
service at Huntsville Memory Gardens at 12:30 pm. In lieu of
flowers, the family kindly requests that you please send
contributions to the First
Baptist Church of Madison
Alabama’s building fund in
memory of Dr. Walker.
