Sonja Cassandra Walker

Sonja Cassandra Walker, affectionately known as "Sandy," began her heroic battle against Sickle Cell Anemia on November 12, 1954. She was the second of 4 children born to William Sr. and Jewellyne Walker. She began her education with her older brother and her cousin at the J.C. Corbin Training School on the campus of Arkansas AM&N College (now UAPB). Sonja was a bright and popular young woman. Despite her frequent hospitalizations, she graduated from Pine Bluff High School and went on to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Southern Illinois University.

Sonja came to faith in Christ at Gethsemane Baptist Church and was baptized in Dudley Lake. After Gethsemane Baptist Church disbanded, she moved her membership to St Peter's Rock Baptist Church, and finally New Saint Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church, where she was an active member for many years. She also was a participant in the Pine Bluff NAACP and a founding member of the Mutual Sickle Cell Disease Support Group. Helping other sickle cell patients battle the disease was an integral part of her life.

After graduation from college, Sonja began her professional career at Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District. She also was a licensed realtor with her own company, Walker Realty.

Sonja never met a party she didn't like. She also enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends and family. She was a big fan of the blues, even getting a gig as a DJ at KCAT for a time. She enjoyed giving speeches with Toastmaster's. Sonja was an animal lover; for many years she had a series of big, beautiful dogs living with her.

On October 25, Sonja ended her lifelong fight against Sickle Cell. She was received in heaven by her mother, Jewellyne Harris Walker, her father, William Henry Walker Sr., and her brother, William Henry Walker, Jr.

She will be remembered by her Aunt, Theresa Cannon of Markham, IL; sister, Sheila Walker of Little Rock; her brother, Stephan (Joyce) Walker of Pine Bluff; her nieces, Tiffany Washington of Farmers Branch, TX; Zoë and Sasha Walker of Pine Bluff; great-niece, Lauren Washington of Farmers Branch, TX; and a host of extended family and friends.

The family would like to give special acknowledgements to her dedicated caregivers, Rosalind and Brenda. These ladies gave endless hours of love and comfort to Sonja.

We celebrate the life that our beloved Sonja lived, and the lessons we have learned through her, of perseverance through pain, fighting until the end, and joy and faith in the midst of storms. Our Lord now beckons to her:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

A valiant soldier has gone to her well-earned rest.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at New St. Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, AR by Pastor Derick Easter. Interment in Walker Cemetery, Gethsemane, AR. Services entrusted to Brown Funeral Home Pine Bluff, AR.

Obituary submitted by the Family.