The sweet and beautiful life of Mary Alice Young Walker, affectionately known as “Sister,” came to a peaceful close on Thanksgiving morning, November 27, 2025, with her loving family at her side. She was 79 years old.

Mary was born on April 1, 1946, by a mid-wife in Whelen Springs, Arkansas to the union of Odie Young and Artie Bell Cooks Young. She was a beautiful young lady who grew up loving the Lord and working hard. In 1964, she married Dennis Walker, and together they began a beautiful family of five children — four daughters and one son. Her home was often the place for family get-togethers, food, laughter and fun.

A dedicated and faithful worker, Mary was employed with Firestone for 32 years, where she consistently served with excellence and retired as a Sir Operator. She was a devoted member of New Bethel AME Church in Gurdon, where she served as Sunday School Superintendent, worked faithfully with the Mission, and served as President of the Kitchen Committee.

Mary was a beautiful, dainty, classy lady who loved to dress up. She delighted in putting on her makeup, polishing her nails, and wearing fine clothes and accessories whenever she went out in public. She loved visiting the sick and shut-in, working in her garden, tending and planting flowers.

A tremendous, soulful cook, Mary was known for many delicious dishes including a tasty pot of greens, neckbones, chocolate pie, and her famous German chocolate cake. She was a loving wife and a great mother. She preached to have kindness towards others and to model self-respect and self-control. Above she loved family and looked forward to family reunions to catch up with family members both old and young.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dennis Walker; her grandson, Montel Williams; her sisters Verdia Marie Young; and her brothers Marvell Young, Alvin Young, Calvin Young, Ozell Young, Eddie Lee Young, Ivory Young, and Charlie Ray Young.

She leaves to cherish her memory her children: Rosemary Walker; Vickie Jones (Herman) of Arkadelphia; Hosea Walker (Loraine) of Arkadelphia; Candy Walker of Gurdon; and Angela Walker of Texarkana; her grandchildren, include Brittney Walker (CJ Mitchell); Bridgette Williams (Naccaman); Mario Brownlee; Karlisha House; Brandon House; Hosea Walker II; Destiny Walker; Bryson Carter; and Braylan Pearson; thirteen great-grandchildren; her brothers, Freddie Young (Glennie) of Los Angeles, CA; Rev. Alfonso Charles Young (Delia) of Prescott, AR; and Raymond Young (Dianne) of Prescott, AR. She also leaves her sisters-in-law Maggielean Young of Ft. Wayne, IN and Gwen Young of Rockford, IL, along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and special friends Angie Henry, Louise Cooks, Mary Jean Colbert and Dianne Lambert.

Visitation will be Friday, December 12, 2025, from 12:00–6:00 PM, with the family receiving friends from 7:00–8:00 PM at Williams Funeral Home. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, with Rev. Jewel Danner, eulogist and Rev. Johnny Harris, officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hedge Cemetery in Gurdon, Arkansas.