Martha Mae Walker
5/15/1933 - 2/13/2019
Martha Mae Walker, age 85, of Pearland, TX passed away on Tuesday, February 13, 2019. Martha was born on May 15, 1933 to Osborne and Hattie Mae Quarles of Jonesboro, Louisiana. She was the youngest of 7 children with 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Martha grew up in Jonesboro and graduated from Jonesboro-Hodge High School in 1951. After graduation Martha began working in Ruston, Louisiana at Phil's Steak House. Eventually moving on to work in an exclusive dress shop in Ruston.
While growing up in Jonesboro a neighbor invited Martha to Vacation Bible School at McDonald Memorial Baptist Church where she came to know Jesus as her Savior. At 15 she impressed a young 19 year old named Ollie Walker during a Training Union Class with her speaking ability. Ollie served in Korea and upon his return to Louisiana his sister Maxine suggested he "look up" Martha. He did, and Martha married Ollie in June of 1956. He would be her beloved and devoted "Red" for the next 61 years.
Ollie and Martha made their home and raised their family of four children in Freeport, TX where Ollie had taken a job with Dow Chemical. As a busy Mom Martha supported PTA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts but made the time for backyard BBQ, the beach and camping with her family. She and Ollie invested their lives at West End Baptist Church, teaching Sunday School, RA's and GA's. They supported the Seaman's Center in Freeport, welcoming men from all over the world into their home for meals. She volunteered at the Joy Daycare Center and with International Friends. Martha became involved in Home and Foreign Missions through WMU (Women's Missionary Union) at West End Baptist. Over 15 years she served in various leadership roles related to missions, including WMU Director for the Gulf Coast Baptist Association. Another lifelong passion was a love of nature and plants. Being outside "digging-in-the-dirt" was Martha's favorite way to spend time with God. Her artistic talents were displayed in the volunteer landscaping her and Ollie provided at West End Baptist, the Seaman's Center and Texas Baptist Encampment. Martha was known across Texas and by Missionaries around the globe as a Prayer Warrior. She filled up a prayer diary each year and taught her family and friends to talk with God. Filling the margins of her Bible with "TYL!" - Thank You Lord! "PTL!" - Praise the Lord! Or "WOW!"
In 1995, after retirement, Ollie and Martha moved to Palacios, Texas as volunteers at the Texas Baptist Encampment. They joined First Baptist Church where Martha served as a Sunday School Teacher, promoted missions and offered up her home and talents in support of new friends.
In 2012 Martha moved with Ollie to Autumn Leaves of Pearland to be closer to their children, grand-children and great grandchildren. She continued to serve her Lord, praying for all she came in contact with. Expressing her faith and love through her sweet spirit and kind words.
Martha is survived by her four children, Becky Walker of Houston, TX, Chuck Walker of Freeport, TX, John Walker and wife Vicky of Baytown, TX and James Walker of Houston, TX; her eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Ollie Walker, of Pearland, daughter-in-law Connie Walker. Her mother and father, Osborne and Hattie Mae Quarles. Brothers: Clifford Quarles, Waymon Quarles and Dalton Quarles. Sisters: Mattie Anderson, Mollie Cannady and Mildred Shackleford. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer's Foundation of American or the Texas Baptist Encampment in Palacios Texas.
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