Betty Walker

Betty Ruth Stephen Walker, 87, of Spartanburg, SC, passed away at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home surrounded by her children on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. Born September 30, 1927, in Spartanburg, SC, she was the daughter of the late James Littlejohn Stephen and Annie Barnett Stephen of Pacolet, SC. Betty was the wife of the late Lemuel Harrall Walker of Spartanburg. Betty graduated from Pacolet High School, attended Columbia College, and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1947. She was a charter member of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, served on the Altar Guild, and taught Sunday School, among many of her activities in the new church. Betty was a member of the Junior League of Spartanburg, was a Girl Scout leader, mental health volunteer, library volunteer, and charter member of the Elizabeth Heath Study Club. She was also a kindergarten teacher. Her true passion was to be a loving wife to Hacky, and to be a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to all. Betty discovered her talent for painting in the later part of her life, and blessed so many of us who loved her paintings. Surviving are her son, Lemuel Harrall Walker, Jr., his wife Joanne, and their sons, Lemuel Harrall Walker III and his wife, Mikella, and their son, Lemuel Harrall, and Benjamin Hamilton Walker; her daughters, Charlotte Walker McKellar and Elizabeth "Libba" Walker Hammond, her husband Robert Wesley Hammond, and their son, Robert Laney Hammond and his wife Sara, their daughters, Claire Barksdale and Marian Theron, and their daughter, Elizabeth Ann "Becky" Hammond-Myers and her husband Patrick Edward Myers; her son, the Reverend Stephen Bruce Walker and his wife Susie, their daughters, Perrin Walker Whitfield-Cargile and her husband Davis Arjuna Whitfield-Cargile, and their children, Oliver Walker and Japeth Finn, Elizabeth Harrall Walker Lutz and her husband William Benton Santee Lutz, and Anne Margaret "Sunni" Walker. In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was predeceased by her brother, Judge James B. Stephen, and by twin sisters, Margaret Stephen Logan and Mary Stephen Duryea. She also leaves behind caregivers who made it possible for her to stay in her home until her death: Teresa Bishop, Carolyn Carruth, Teresa Long, Rita Webb, Crystal Leopard, Rhonda Sutton, Becky Ortiz, Kay Justice, Diane Maddox, Sonda Childers, Taylor Childers, and Nelly Smith. A graveside service will be conducted at 10:00 AM Friday, March 20, 2015, in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307, with the Rev. Thomas M. Rickenbaker officiating. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 AM at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 400 Dupre Dr., Spartanburg, SC 29307, with the Rev. Robert L. Brown presiding and Rev. Deacon Leslie Ferguson Horvath preaching. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. Pallbearers are Christopher G. Walker, David H. Thompson, Robert L. Hammond, Patrick E. Myers, Davis A. Whitfield-Cargile, and William Lutz. Honorary escort will be her caregivers. Memorials may be made to St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 400 Dupre Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29307, or Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home, 686 Jeff Davis Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303. The family will be at the home. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Betty Ruth Stephen Walker please visit our Sympathy Store.