Eileen Kelley Walbert

Sweet lady. I took piano lessons from Jim two different times through the years. Wonderful people. Just saw this.....Debra Leverett, Cullman, AL

I enjoy my lovely memories of my Aunt Eileen. When she would call and I would hear her beautiful voice and messages of love and all the good causes that kept her young. I want to thank Pam for bringing her here to Newport News for her last visit to the area where she was born and grew and met the love of her life. It would be the last time my sister and I would see her. My sister died about five years ago. I´m so glad they had that time together. I was blessed to have this wonderful person...

Eileen's significant dedication to our communities continues to resonate and promote our further commitment to unity and diversity. Eileen was a friend of my Mom (and activist), Mary Jean Haddin.

Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Mrs. Walbert was a great role model and a great friend. She will always be remembered.

David...Am just now finding out about your Mother. Thinking of you and all your family....and wishing I had really known her. I know how proud you were of her. Certainly no son could have cared better for his mother than you. K

There aren’t enough words or space to give honor to such a lady, Mrs. Eileen Walbert. She was one of a kind. We meet around 1965/66, when she was on a mission to turn the wheels of injustices and inequality, for the education of black students in Homewood, AL as well as Birmingham. She came to our homes to speak with our parents, (canvassing the neighborhood), about school integration in the Jefferson County School System, This meant that we would need to apply for a transfer from our black...

RIP

Eileen was born in Hilton Village, now a section of Newport News, VA. She was one of five daughters of Zaida and Tom Kelley and beloved sister of my mother, Margaret. During WW2 she lived with my parents for a while. It was during that time that she met and married her husband, Jim Walbert who was a member of the Army band stationed at Ft. Monroe. After their marriage they lived on the base then moved to Birmingham. Their love for each other, their children, family, friends, music, art, and...

More than three decades ago, I met Eileen through mutual friends. I began to know her as kind and bold, gentle but persistent in pursuing what Congressman John Lewis termed "good trouble" . She is missed, but her legacy of positive impact on those she touched in our shared community goes on. Our thanks and condolences to the Walbert family.