Frances Lucretia (Herbert) Walker

Frances Lucretia Herbert Walker was born on February 15, 1921 in Arcadia, South Carolina.  The third child of Robert and Georgia Bagwell Herbert, she had one brother, Robert Jr., who was the oldest sibling, and a sister, Eula.  

At the tender age of three, Frances’ mother passed away, leaving her father to care for the family.  At the age of ten, Frances and her sister Eula moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina to live with their Aunt Eula and Uncle Harvey Owens, while her brother remained in Arcadia with their father.  Frances’ father made frequent visits to Hendersonville and the family remained close despite the miles between them. This enduring commitment to family guided Frances through much of her life and helped her become the loving, caring and devoted person that we all knew and loved so dearly.

Frances attended public schools in Hendersonville where she began piano lessons at the age of 12.  

After graduating from Hendersonville High School, she moved to Durham, North Carolina to attend college.  Soon after arriving, she met a free-spirited young man who would forever change her life.  On October 8, 1940, Frances Lucretia Herbert gave her hand and heart to Nathaniel Edward Walker.  A marriage of true love, the couple was married for 71 years, during which time their love and affection never faded.

In 1943, Frances joined White Rock Baptist Church where her husband was already a faithful member. She, too, remained a devoted member of White Rock Baptist Church for more than 70 years.

On January 4, 1946 Frances gave birth to their only son, Nathaniel Edward, Jr. After raising their only child, Frances decided to return to school. She attended North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) where she graduated in 1965 with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Music.  Shortly thereafter, she taught preschool and first grade at W.D. Recreation Center in Durham, North Carolina.

For many years, Frances was active in her community, where she was very involved with voter registration. You could always find her working the polls on Election Day.

In 2015, she moved to Decatur, Georgia, where she lived with her son and daughter in law.  She filled most of her days traveling with her family and having “Girl’s Days” with her faithful granddaughter Angela.

Francis was preceded in death by her husband Nathaniel Sr., and siblings Robert Herbert, Jr. and Eula Harris.  

She leaves to cherish her loving memory a devoted son Nathaniel Edward Walker, Jr, and daughter in law, Lula Moore Walker; one granddaughter, Angela Cochran-Walker; three nieces (Frances, Sandra, and Mary); three nephews (Wilburn, Ray Stanley, and Jeffery); special cousins; Evelyn Gilmore of Durham, NC and Vivian Stephens of Columbia, SC; special family friends, Ken and Paulette Ingram, and many other loving relatives and friends.

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