James William “Billy” Walker, age 92, of Douglas, passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Coffee Regional Medical Center. Mr. Walker was born on May 11, 1927 in Brooks County, Georgia the son of the late Fleming Bates Walker and the late Deborah Elizabeth Joyce Walker.
Mr. Walker graduated from Barney High School and then went on to the University of Georgia, where he graduated in 1951. That same year, Mr. Walker began teaching at Satilla. He then went to Atkinson County where he served as a teacher and coach from 1952 to 1955 before returning to Coffee County in 1956 as the agriculture teacher. He retired from the Coffee County School System in 1979 after twenty-nine years. Mr. Walker was a veteran of the United States Army serving during World War II and was a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Gloria Walker Brooks.
Survivors include his wife, Joann Littleton Walker of Douglas; two sons, James William Walker, Jr. (wife, Crystal) of Douglas and Gregory Lee Walker (wife, Carman) of Pearson; daughter, Annette Nation (husband Phil) of Douglas; eight grandchildren, Ben Walker, Kaden Walker, Bryce Walker, Beth O’Steen (husband, Jake), Jamie Lee Nipper (husband, Kyler), Kaycee Hopwood, Leigh Ann Bailes (husband, Charlie) and Lauren Friel (husband, Patrick); sixteen great grandchildren, Kerceton Walker, Kennedy Walker, Kaitlyn Walker, Jackson O’Steen, Loren O’Steen, Anna Lee O’Steen, Maggie O’Steen, Korbyn Nipper, Kamdyn Nipper, Koewyn Nipper, Nation Nipper, Ella Hopwood, Walker Hopwood, Vivian Bailes, Finn Bailes and Banks Bailes.
The family will receive friends Saturday evening January 11, 2020 from 5:30pm until 8:00pm at Sims Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 2:00pm at Covenant Church with Pastor Gregory Pope and Rev. Chris Calhoun officiating. Interment will follow at Douglas City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jake O’Steen, Ben Walker, Bryce Walker, Jackson O’Steen, Greg Hopwood and Kyler Nipper. Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. Walker’s former students and members of St. Mark United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CCBOE FFA Chapter, c/o Coffee County Board of Education, 500 Van Davis Rd., Douglas, GA 31533.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.