Mother Ethel Lee Walker Obituary (1923 - 2017)

Mother Ethel Lee was born July 25, 1923 to Eli and Mattie Scott Jackson, in DelValle, Texas. She was the ninth child of twelve. Ethel accepted Christ at an early age, baptized on Shiloh Onion Creek, and joined the New Hope Primitive Baptist Church. She remained a member all her life. She was a faithful, dedicated member, attending Sunday School and church services regularly. She was a member of the Mission and Mother board. She was a member of the choir, with a voice like Mahalia Jackson, known for and often requested to sing "You Must Be Born Again." She always sang and made a joyful noise for the Lord. She met and married Everett Walker on May 10, 1945 in Travis County, who preceded her in death. Ethel enjoyed fishing, and she was one of the best in DelValle. She caught fish and willingly gave them away to family members and friends. She had big hands, soft and experienced. She could cut, clean, and filet a fish before you could blink an eye. Those who knew her said she could catch fish on dry land, she was that good. She worked many, many years for the families who lived on Bergstrom Air Force Base doing domestic work. Some would call her a Professional Domestician. She started out working a couple days a week that quickly changed to a week, when she showed them how she operated. She never drove a car a day in her life, but she got picked up in fine cars by Majors, Colonels, and Generals and their wives to take her to their homes where she cooked, cleaned and took care of their children. She was employed by the highest ranking officers on Bergstrom Air Force Base where they gave and took orders. But in their homes, Ethel was the Captain, and ran their homes with love, kindness and Godly love. The word on the Air Force Base got around, there was a lady named Ethel, they didn't use her last name because there was only one Ethel that did what she did. Sort of like Oprah, Steve and R. Phil, they too were well known by their first names. With those big lovable gentle hands again at work, she could iron shirts, and army uniforms and made them look like they came from the cleaners. Every Major, Colonel, and General's wife wanted the best and that was Ethel. On her off day, they brought their ironing to her home, where they paid extra of course. She had shirts and uniforms hanging in her living room, and it looked like a cleaners. They were ironed and starched as stiff as a board without any wrinkles. She had a way with their children talking to them instilling Godly values, just as her mother had done with her as a child. She would often spend nights while their parents were out or traveling. They did not worry because the children loved Ethel so much. She gave the children her love, kindness, and gentle care. Sometimes the children would talk back or rebel against their parents, Ethel would step in and tell them that's not God's way, and the children would obey and the parents would be so grateful for her Godly supervision. They gave her birthday gifts of money, clothes and jewelry and bonuses, to show their appreciation. She worked for families such as the Garrets, Edinbows, the Fallwells and many others. She was the aunt you could borrow money from, she was free-hearted, but if you didn't pay it back she said, "Don't come back for no more." She could tell the best ghost stories. They would keep you in suspense and make your eyes get big, and your heart beat faster. She loved her New Hope Church family, and often in her welcome and greeting she would say I love everybody in this church. She loved all people and she was kind and soft spoken. A good wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, neighbor and friend. Most of all a Godly Christian Woman. On Wednesday, December 27, 2017 our Heavenly Father called, she answered, and He gave her rest. She leaves to cherish her memories her daughters, Willie Joyce Spigner (Joe) deceased, San Jose, CA Erma Jean Wright (Maurice) deceased, Modesta, CA, Vera Lee Winn (Joseph) deceased, DelValle, TX, Georgia Ruth Thompson (Lee) deceased), Las Vegas, Nevada, Joetta Houston (James) deceased, San Jose, CA, Linda Madison (Eartha-Matt) Las Vegas, Nevada; one son Charles Everett Walker (deceased), Sunnyvale, CA; all her grand, great grand, great great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett Walker, one son Charles Walker, one granddaughter Angela Faye Thompson, parents Eli and Mattie Scott Jackson, her sisters Willie Mae Burditt, Lela Gray, Maxine Williams, Lucille Sneed, Rosie Lee Davis, Oletha Houston, brothers Eli Jackson, Jack Dempsey, T.J. Jackson, Woodrow Jackson, and Herbert Jackson.