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Light a Candle
Betty Ann Walker was born on February 16, 1932 to Velma E. Allen and Neva Lee Fields. Betty Ann Allen had two sisters, Hazel and Betty Jean, and one brother who died in early childhood. At the age of five her mother died of T.B. Velma decided to leave to find work and left his girls to be raised by their grandmother, Adeline Fields and their aunt, Ollie Mae Fields.
Betty Ann felt she had a blessed childhood. Even though they had very little money, their grandmother and aunt made them feel like little princesses. They loved when their grandmother would make a fresh pan of biscuits for each of them. They cherished when their great-grandfather Jim Fields, who would come in his wagon to visit and bring them walnuts and other treats.
Betty Ann loved to learn. She couldn’t wait for Hazel to come home from school and teach her what she had learned that day. When Betty Ann started school, she had a great foundation. Her aunt and grandmother only had a 3rd grade education, but they understood the importance of education and encouraged the girls to strive for excellence. The girls drive to succeed academically was unmatched. Betty Ann spent many nights studying by candlelight. Her hard work paid off. She skipped from 1st to 3rd grade and from 4th to 6th grade, placing her in the same grade as her older sister Hazel. Betty Ann graduated as class valedictorian at age 16 from Carthage High School in 1948. She also went on to win the Pepsi-Cola Scholarship that same year.
With the diligent hard work of their grandmother and aunt, and the help of their high school teachers and counselors, the girls were able to go to college. Betty attended Tillison College and continued her pursuit of academic excellence. At the age of 20, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and her teaching credential in 1952. Soon, she moved to California and lived with her father in San Francisco.
In 1953, she was joined in California by Ira Jerome Walker. They were married in October 1953. In 1955, they welcomed their first child, Ira Gerome Walker Jr. and a few years later, they welcomed their other three children: Steven Craig Walker, Janine Marcet Walker (Mayfield) and Karen Denise Walker (Pugh).
In 1974, she continued her love of education and obtained her teaching credential in California. She worked for the Oakland Unified School District and taught the 5th and 6th grades. Her sisters also worked as elementary school teachers for Oakland. In 1976, she received a Master’s of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of San Francisco. She continued her education by earning the equivalency of a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.
She passed on her love of learning to her children and her students. She enjoyed teaching, taking her students on field trips, directing class plays, and teaching numerous sports as a Physical Education instructor. Numerous former students sought her out years later to thank her for being such an amazing teacher.
Betty Ann and Ira retired in 1991. Sadly, after 38 years of marriage Ira passed away of a heart attack that year. Betty continued to live at her home in Oakland, where she spent time her sisters and former co-workers. They enjoyed shopping, eating out, and fellowshipping at Allen Temple Baptist Church where they were all members.
Betty Ann was also very active as a grandmother. She would often visit with her children and grandchildren. Betty had 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. In 1997, she was extended an invitation to live in Sacramento with her youngest daughter, Karen, where they became forever tied as not only mother and daughter, but also life-long companions. She was also able to be a full-time grandmother and was considered irreplaceable for the impact her presence made. She continued the rest of her days spending time with her grandkids, doing her Sudoku/crossword puzzles, and taking care of her Aunt Ollie Mae (Annie), who she moved from Texas to California once her grandmother passed away at the age of 99. Aunt Ollie Mae then passed away in 2013 at 102 years old.
As Betty Ann continued to thrive in her senior years completing crossword puzzles in five minutes or less on her iPad, her journey quickly began to change course when a mass was discovered in August 2021; and by October 2021, unfortunately, life as she knew it was changing. Her health and physical mobility began to decline rapidly. Although her health was deteriorating, she remained in good spirit singing and moving to Sam Cooke while bedridden. She eventually passed away peacefully at home in her surroundings in the morning on January 3, 2022, with her daughter Karen by her side and with the support of other family and friends.
Betty Ann was preceded in death by her sisters Hazel Marshall and Betty Jean Thompson, her husband Ira, her mother Neva Lee Allen, her father Velma Allen, her grandmother Adeline Fields, and Aunt Ollie Mae Fields.
Betty's presence in the world made a real difference to everyone who met her. She was so an amazing woman and will be deeply missed by many. She leaves behind her beloved children: Ira G. Walker Jr. (Rommie), Steven C. Walker (Fella), Janine M. Mayfield and Karen D. Walker-Pugh, her grandchildren: Kumiko Walker, Ira Walker, Paul Nay, Steven Walker II, Jaden Walker, Matthew Mayfield, Janae Mayfield, Michelle Mayfield, Kiara Pugh-James, Michael Pugh II, Maurice Pugh her great-grandchildren: Kaiya Walker, Aniya James, Liam James, and Elijah James and her goddaughter Valerie Weinberg and her sons Christopher and Alex.
