Graveside services for Paula Evelyn Franklin Walker will be on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 11:00 am at Macedonia Baptist Church, 1230 Macedonia Road NW, Brookhaven, Mississippi. Rev. Jimmy T. Smith, Jr. will be officiating the service, with Brookhaven Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Paula Evelyn Franklin Walker passed away peacefully at her home September 20, 2022, with her family by her side.

Ms. Paula, a lifelong resident of Lincoln County, was born March 13, 1924, the eighth of 10 children to James Thomas “Tom” and Ruth Laird Franklin, at her family home in the West Lincoln community. As a young child, she attended Flea Hop School with her siblings and many cousins in the area. During the difficult times of the early 1930’s, the family moved to the Fair Oak Springs community of eastern Lincoln County, where they worked as sharecroppers — the children working alongside their parents. Ms. Paula attended Fair Oak Springs School until her family moved to the Nola Road community. She then attended Heucks Retreat School, where she graduated as co-Valedictorian in 1943. Ms. Paula, with the financial assistance of her sister Emma, attended Copiah Lincoln, earning her Associate Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1945.

Following graduation, Ms. Paula worked for Western Union until she was called to return to her Heucks Retreat Alma Mater to teach. She taught there until her marriage to Carl Walker. After the couple moved to the Old Red Star Road Community, Ms. Paula taught and coached at Loyd Star High School for a short time. She then became a stay-at-home mother to her four children.

In 1968, Mr. Carl passed away, and Ms. Paula worked various part-time jobs while raising her children; and, for many years, worked as a substitute teacher in the Brookhaven Public School System. As her children grew older, she returned to Copiah Lincoln obtaining her license as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1977. Ms. Paula loved her work at King’s Daughters Medical Center as the night nursery nurse caring for the newborn babies. Ms. Paula also worked at University Medical Center, and the former Brook Manor Nursing Home. Ms. Paula was a lifetime member of the Copiah Lincoln Community College Alumni Association.

Ms. Paula was a baptized member of Holly Springs Baptist Church. Following marriage and move to Old Red Star Road, she joined her beloved Macedonia Baptist Church family, where, for more than 60 years, she served her Lord and Savior faithfully through her work in Sunday School, Church Training, Women’s Missions and Outreach, and Vacation Bible School; also serving on various committees and in leadership roles.

Ms. Paula is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl Walker; brothers, Vollie Franklin, James T. Franklin, Jr.; sisters, Ethel Harris, Donis Gardner, Edith Dickerson, Vera Vickery, Emma Breaux, and Margaret Landry. Also preceding her in death are her son-in-law Donnie Bruce Douglas, daughter-in-law Betty Jean McKinion Walker, and grandson Barrett Shelton.

Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Carl Donald Walker; daughters, Paula Elizabeth Douglas Lea (Ronnie), Rosemary Walker Letchworth (Jerrell), and Katie Ruth Walker Shelton (Freddie); grandchildren, James Brian Douglas, Carey Daniel Douglas (Nikki), Jennifer Ann Walker Whitaker, Chad Ryan Walker, Amanda Upton Bergeron (Jake); and nine great-grandchildren. Ms. Paula is also survived by her baby sister Bertille Johnson, whom she loved dearly. Ms. Paula also leaves behind many nephews, nieces, and other family members who will miss their “Sweet Aunt Paula.”

The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice Ministries for their care and compassion for Ms. Paula, and their support for her children as they cared for her. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries, 397 Brookhaven Street, Brookhaven, MS.