Corinne D. Walker

A beautiful life of caring and sharing came to an end on Friday, November 28th, 2025.

Mrs. Corinne Doris Watson Walker was born on December 6, 1923 in Stephens, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Willie R. Watson and Mable Todd Watson, both deceased. She is the older of two children, her brother James A Watson preceded her in death. She was the wife of the late Reverend Lawrence A. Walker for 71 years.

Corinne attented school in Stephens, Arkansas until high school. There was no high school that African Americans could attend. Her family were members of the St. James AME Church in Stephens, Arkansas and at the age of 13, with the help of the Presiding Elder and St. James Church, she received a scholarship to attend Shorter College in Little Rock, Arkansas. The school housed a High School, Junior College and 4 year College. In 1942 Corinne began her undergraduate education at Arkansas A.M.& N. State College ( University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff). This is where she met and married her husband Lawrence A. Walker. Lawrence joined the military, and shortly after returning they moved to San Antonio, Texas. Corinne completed her undergraduate degree in education at Huston-Tillotson College, in Austin Texas. She graduated Cum Laude.

Corinne and Lawrence welcomed three children Lawrence Walker, Doris Walker Francis, and Kenneth Walker.

In 1959 Corinne worked on her Masters Degree for two summers at the University of Southern California. In 1969 she completed her Masters in Education at Trinity College in San Antonio, Texas. She taught in the San Antonio school district for 29 years. Her motto: "Always do your best and God will do the rest".

She was a four time world traveler. She traveled to China, Egypt, Jerusalem, Paris, Canada, Mexico and several states within in the US including Hawaii.

Her husband Lawrence received his call into the ministry and became the first black minister in the Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church. Corinne also had a first, she became the first black president of Southwest Texas Ministers Wives Conference. During the Civil Rights movement, they were very active within the community.

Corinne joined St. James A.M.E. Church at age 9. She served the church in many capacities over the years. She was First Lady, member of the choir, Sunday School Teacher, and performed a great deal of mission work. Upon her relocation to North Carolina she was honored to be Church Mother of St. Matthew's A.M.E. in Burlington. She was also a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Family members cherishing her memory are three children: Lawrence V. Walker, Doris A. Francis, and Kenneth A. Walker; five grandchildren, Anita Thompson (Keith) Michael Walker, Rondalyn Turner (Ricky), Lawrence Walker, and Troy Walker; 6 great grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.