Lynda Walker-Webster

Lynda (Powers) Walker-Webster entered into time in Des Moines, IA on February 18, 1945; the daughter of the late William David Powers and Emma Walker Warfield of Oskaloosa, IA.

A Celebration of the gift of life will be held at 11 am Saturday, March 28, 2015 from her beloved St. Paul AME Church. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service. Inurnment to follow at Glendale.

Lynda's infancy, education, religious, creative and formative years began in the small, southern Iowa town of Lovilia, Iowa under the guidance of her Great Grandmother, Amanda Johnson Walker. In 1956 she joined her mother and stepfather in Des Moines where she continued her educational journey at Crocker Elementary, Washington Irving Jr. High and Des Moines Technical High Schools. She continued her advanced education at Drake University, Yale University and the University Of Illinois Medical Center- Chicago.

Lynda met and married Attorney Melton M. Webster of Long Island, New York who preceded her in death.

1977 brought Lynda back to Iowa as the guardian of two teen cousins, whose mother had died of cancer. She began her employment with the City of Des Moines as a housing and financial counselor for the Department of Community Development and Case manager for the Department of Housing Services. She recently retired after almost 30 years of service.

Lynda was a citizen of the world. She traveled to England, Ireland, Finland, Italy and Spain as an undergraduate student; to Brazil, along the Amazon River as part of a medical research team and to Appalachia, the Caribbean, South and Central America and Western Africa studying minority and rural medicine. She was concerned about the plight of others and how she could better their condition.

Retirement did not mean rest to Lynda. She was always a very civic minded person and kept herself busy giving back to the community. She served as president of the National Black Child Development Institute-Des Moines Affiliate, Roosevelt PTA president, Hubbell PTA vice president, Chair of Genealogical Society of Chicago, Iowa African American Museum Advisory Committee, Iowa Historical Society, NAACP, Iowa Club of Des Moines, Girlfriends, Inc., African American Educational Leadership Comm., United Way Allocation Board, Willkie House Board, Sisters on Target, I'll Make Me a World Advisory and Education Committee, Des Moines Public Schools Desegregation Committee, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Des Moines Public Schools Boundary Change Committee, American Friends Service Committee, African American Leadership Coalition and the list goes on.

Church involvement was a major part of Lynda's life. She joined the St. Paul AME Church at the age of 15. She loved music and was a member of the renowned Richard Allen Chorus, St. Paul AME Choir, The Women of Virtue Choir and the "Gospel Viduals". She served as church historian for many years; was a member of the Adah Johnson Mission society, William Sampson Brook Mission Society, and Director of the Christian Education department. She also chaired the 125th and 130th Church Anniversary celebrations.

Lynda was a former free-lance writer, poet, former newspaper columnist and national newsletter editor. Her list of writings include an inspirational column for the Iowa Bystander; National Iowa Club Newsletter; "Exits and Entrances" poetry journal; and author of the social organizations chapter of "Outside In". She also loved compiling the "Iowa Days" Homecoming Reunion books for Des Moines.

Lynda volunteered on many other boards and committees earning awards for untiring service and advocacy. She received the Alice Rodine Award, YWCA Woman of Achievement Award, Iowa Author's Award from the Des Moines Library Foundation, the Governor's Volunteer Award from both Governors Branstad and Vilsack, The Youth Award from the Des Moines Chapter of Links, Inc., The National Black Child Development Community Service Award and the National Poetry Award.

And if that wasn't enough, Lynda still found time for enjoyments such as being a certified Genealogist, Abstracting History, creative writing and listening to good jazz and Gospel music. She cherished her family, made time for friends and kept a curiosity about life.

On March 21, 2015 Lynda stretched out her arms to the Master and registered as a child of His Kingdom. She was preceded in death by her husband; mother and stepfather; God parents, Charles "Jap" and Mary Ruth Simmons; grandparents and two special aunts, Bernice Campbell and Arnetta Butler.

Lynda leaves cherished memories with her daughter, Amandalynn and son-in-law Paul Montgomery Jr.; grandsons, Paul III and Laurence Montgomery; two attentive cousins, Christine Davis Capers of Renton Washington and Shirley A. Daniels; a very cherished uncle, Paul Danforth; her special aunt, Frances Johnson; a "kitty-son", Hiram Revels and life-long sister friends, Gayle Ashby Watkins, Sharon Brown Jackson, Shirley Harper, Ann Bevel, Margaret Starr and many other loving and cherished cousins, friends and extended family.

Memorials may be made in Lynda's honor to her beloved St. Paul AME Church.