Laura Jane Walker

Jane Hawkins Walker was born November 30, 1937, and died Thursday, October 23, 2025. The daughter of Lawrence H. and Selma C. Hawkins of Macon, she grew up in Macon, Georgia, and attended Gresham Grammar School, Miller, Jr., and Miller, Sr. high schools in Macon. She attended Young Harris College where she was a Class Speaker at the YHC graduation in 1959 and also attended Wesleyan College where she majored in English. In 1960, she married Billy W. Walker and moved to McRae where B.W. Walker established his law practice of thirty-four years before his death in 1994.

After his death, at the age of 62, she decided to fulfill a lifelong aspiration to write a novel, which was published in 2002. To her surprise, it was awarded a President's award for Best Adult Fiction by the Florida Publishing Association, Inc., in 2003. Encouraged by this, she authored other books, sometimes as a coauthor, the writing of which was a shield against loneliness, following her husband's death.

She belonged to the McRae United Methodist Church and taught Sunday School for over forty-five years in McRae and Macon. She was a student of the Bible, having read it cover to cover many times and every day for many years and usually taught her Sunday School classes straight from the Bible. A former member of the D.A.R., she also belonged to the McRae Duplicate Bridge Club, the Pioneer Historical Society, and was president of the Telfair Arts Association for a number of years. She was chairman of the Lightered Knot Association which produced the outdoor drama The Lightered Knot. This was performed at Little Ocmulgee State Park near McRae in the 1990's.

She is survived by two children, Billy Ware Walker, Jr., and Laura Lei Walker Knight (Robbie) of McRae; two grandchildren, Brannon Walker Knight (Katie) of Eastman and Brice Knight Nelms (Dylan) of Hazlehurst; six great grandchildren, Robert Pierce Knight and Norah Lei Knight of Eastman, Rise Lei Nelms, Reid Laura Nelms, Raen Lottie Nelms and Knight Carver Nelms of Hazlehurst.

She is also survived by a sister, Mary Ann Collins (Norman) of Roswell, Georgia and a brother, Ashley Hawkins (Kris) of Forsyth, Georgia; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Jane Walker was a resident of Southern Charm Assisted Living in McRae where she leaves behind friends who became family.

A funeral service honoring Jane will be held at 2:00P.M., Saturday, October 25, at McRae Methodist Church with visitation beginning an hour prior. Burial will be at Bethlehem (Sandhill) Methodist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates contributions to Cornerstone Christian Academy Building Fund, 5107 Oak St., Eastman, GA 31023, or to Appling Christian Academy, 1479 Hatch Parkway S., Baxley, GA 31513.