Obituary of Shirley Annette Walker

Mrs. Shirley Peters Walker, a life-long resident of the Marley Mill Community of Ozark, passed away August 20, 2023, at her home. She was 84 years old. Funeral Services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at Ozark Baptist Church with Reverend Dr. Eric Fuller officiating. Interment will follow in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends in the church Tuesday from 10:00 A.M. until service time. Serving as pallbearers are Brent Walker, Ryne Walker, Orin Galloway, Erik Henderson, Charles Snyder, Christian Callahan, and Travis Blanton. Mrs. Walker was born in Ozark, Alabama on June 27, 1939, to the late Louie and Lorena Peters. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, co-worker, and friend. She married her sweetheart, Royce Walker, on November 30, 1957, and devoted herself to him for 62 years, until his death. For many years, her primary focus was raising her family. She later managed the cafeteria at Flowers School and then became a bookkeeper for her husband’s business. She started college later in life when her children became young adults. She attended George C. Wallace Community College and earned her LPN certificate. She worked as a nurse for over 30 years and retired from Ozark Health and Rehab. She loved cooking, especially baking, and hosted numerous family and friends for a homecooked meal. Many enjoyed her pound cakes, blackberry jelly rolls and famous collard greens. She was a member of Ozark Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher and enjoyed activities of the Senior Adult Ministry. She, along with Royce, blessed many with birthday cards and cards of encouragement. They walked with the Lord and loved His people in all that they did. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Royce Walker; parents, Louie and Lorena Peters; in-laws, George Raymond and Cleta Godwin Walker; grandson, Samuel Grayson Walker; grandson, Alex Mirabito; brother-in-law, Joe Outlaw; nephew, Joseph Anthony “Winki” Outlaw; great niece, Libby Claire Rushing; and sister-in-law, Peggy Ard. She is survived by her children, Greg Walker (Bebe) of Midland City, Gordon (Lissa) Walker of Tuscaloosa, Gwyn Galloway of Midland City, Gary (Lynda) Walker of Ozark; grandchildren, Brent (Amber) Walker of Pinckard, Ryne (Lindsey) Walker of Birmingham, Kristin (Erik) Henderson of Wicksburg, Melanie Mirabito of Farmington Hills, Michigan, Amy (Christian) Callahan of Tuscaloosa, Alycia (Travis) Blanton of Cataula, Georgia, Cara (Charles) Snyder of Peachtree City, Georgia, Orin (Cassidy) Galloway of Skipperville, and Claudia Walker of Ozark; great-grandchildren, Hunter Willis Walker of Pinckard, Carson, Addi, and Anna Henderson of Wicksburg, Alice Catherine Walker of Birmingham, Lyla Frazier, Oliver Boden, and Mattie Jo Blanton of Cataula, Georgia, David and Kinley Snyder of Peachtree City, Georgia, Huxton, Briggs, and Foster Galloway of Skipperville; two sisters, Cathy Outlaw and Sybil (Ronnie) Kelley of Lake Eufaula. Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive. The family would like to say a special thank you to her caregivers: Judy Bundy, Carol Dawkins, the late Lalia Smith, Yolanda Williams, and Eleanor Martinez for caring for Mother just like she was their own Mother. They have become valued and beloved members of our family. A special thanks to Gentiva Hospice for their loving care for Mother, especially: Dr. Wewers, Brett, Beverly, Kerri, and Brother Charles. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 291, Ozark, Alabama 36361, or to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund in c/o Gayle Peters, 1124 County Road 11, Ozark, Alabama