Samuel Dea “Sam” Walker Sr., 69, of Blackshear, passed away Thursday, November 10, 2022, at Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross.
Born in Waycross September 26, 1953, he had lived in Pierce County all his life. He was a 1971 graduate of Blackshear High School and went on to serve in the National Guard for six years. He retired from CSX Transportation after 41 years where he had been a pipefitter. He had also been a farmer all his life. He never met a stranger and loved to talk to everyone. He enjoyed riding his bicycle, going to concerts and dancing and being with his family. He always looked forward to going to his grandchildren’s sporting events, especially their basketball games. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was a member of the Blackshear First United Methodist Church where he was in the Bridge Sunday School Class.
He was a son of the late David Hugh Sr. and Sarah Verdell Winn Walker. He was also preceded in death by his brother, David Hugh Walker Jr. and his father-in-law, Robert Buie Sr.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Gail Buie Walker, Blackshear; four daughters and sons-in-law, Lealane and Brian Sanders and Hannah and Kelly Murray, all of Blackshear, Cassie and Nick Berkemeier, Canton, and Quincy and Chase Burgess, Blackshear; his son, Samuel Dea “Sam” Walker Jr., Waycross; his sister, Connie (Mike) Quarnaccio, Wyoming, DE; his mother-in-law, Quen Buie, Blackshear; his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Dowling, Blackshear; his brother-in-law, Bobby (Kay) Buie, Waycross; nine grandchildren, Ava Murray, Olivia Sanders, Claire Murray, Owen Sanders, Julianna Murray, James Berkemeier, John Daniel Berkemeier, Maren Burgess and Quill Burgess; nieces and nephews, Thomas Dowling, Jessica (Chris) Clark, Hunter Buie, Bailey (Blake) James, Pam (Matt) Cook, David (Leslie) Quarnaccio and Franklin Boyett; several other relatives and too many friends to try to count.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, from the First United Methodist Church in Blackshear with the Rev. Edmund Thrift and the Rev. Mary Ann Braswell officiating. Quincy Burgess spoke on behalf of the family.
A private interment will be held in the Patterson Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Sam Walker Jr., Owen Sanders, Brian Sanders, Kelly Murray, Nick Berkemeier and Chase Burgess.
Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Turner, Leon Cochran, P.T. Kinnon, Gary Dixon, Paul Walker and Wayne Morgan. They are asked to please meet at the church by 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 127, Blackshear, GA 31516.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
