Paula Walker

Life of Paula

Paula “Polly” Walker, 84, a native of Chicago, Illinois passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 while residing with her son Fredrick Newell Sr. and daughter in law Joyce Newell in El Paso, Tx.

Floy Lee who later changed her name to Paula was the second child born to Issac Newell and Ola’Mae Brown on February 4, 1941 in Hazelhurst, Mississippi who both preceded her in death. Siblings: Evelyn Cole (preceded her in death), Gloria Mosely (76), and Edward Crenshaw (preceded her in death). Paula attended school in Sweetwater, Mississippi, and spent some time in St. Louis before making the Windy City home for her and her four children in 1966. Children: Freda Newell (Twin), Regina Newell (Twin, preceded her in death), Fredrick Newell Sr., and Chandra Renee Newell.

In 1981 she met and started a new life journey with the late Melvin Walker. The family embraced this union, and they shared many years and memories together before marrying in 2002. They remained married until his death on December 4, 2023.

Paula had incredible work ethic and was a hard-working woman who worked diligently in the city of Chicago beyond her retirement years. She worked as a data entry specialist at Gibson Specialty, spent some years as a housekeeper, and finally, as a custodian at the Chicago Public Library where she retired. Paula was always a well-dressed women from head to toe and loved the Chicago Bulls. Her favorite color was red and in her free time, she threw down in the kitchen, enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and loved to dance to Motown Classics. She received Christ in the ladder years of her life.

She leaves behind a host of grand children, great grands, great great grands, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives that love and miss her dearly.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”

Psalms 133:1 KJV