Joan Castleberry Walker

Joan Castleberry Walker died on December 5th, at her home surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and her beloved dog, Sonny. She had recently celebrated a joyful Thanksgiving with four generations of her family including her four children, Lee Troutman Cory (Neal), Missy Troutman deSouza (Steve), Katherine Troutman Ferrara and Frank Troutman III; her six grandchildren, Clem McDavid (Stirling), Maggie Gregory (Manning), Martin Ferrara, Jr. (Elizabeth), Alexandra Ferrara, Stewart Cory-Kline (Eric), and Preston Cory; and her five great-grandchildren Palmer McDavid, Chandler McDavid, Katherine McDavid, Elaina Gregory, and Gracie Gregory.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Friday, December 9th at 11:30 with the Rev. Dr. Eric Biddy officiating.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband of twenty-three years, Hampton James Walker, whom she met when he was Regimental Commander and member of the Summerall Guards at The Citadel. Mr. Walker had one daughter, Wendy Susan Walker, of Vero Beach, Florida.

Mrs. Walker was born on March 28, 1932 to Clement Stewart Castleberry and Birdie Lee Cowan Castleberry. She was the godchild of Mary Katherine Sterling Creel and Howard Winston Creel.

She had deep family roots in Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia.

In addition to the love for her family and her dogs, she was especially devoted to her friends from Mrs. Clark’s kindergarten at William Robinson School. She went on to attend Tubman High School for Girls, Mt. Vernon Junior College and the University of Georgia, where she was a member of Phi Mu Sorority and sweetheart of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. At UGA, she became an accomplished pianist and played Rachmaninoff’s “Revolutionary Etude'' for her senior recital. She also had a beautiful singing voice, and once gave a memorable performance of Gershwin’s “Summertime,’’ dressed in a black evening gown, perched atop a grand piano at the Phi Mu house. She instilled her love of music in her children and grandchildren.

Mrs. Walker had a deep faith in Christ which sustained her throughout her life until the time of her death. She was a life-long member of St. Paul’s Church, Augusta, where she served the Lord as a member of the Daughters of the King, the Women of the Church and the Altar Guild. She also served on the Diocesan Council of Georgia. For several years she was a member of Christ Church, Frederica. She was also a long time member of The Reid Memorial Bible Study Group.

She volunteered for many organizations, including St. Joseph’s Hospital as a “Pink Lady,” the American Cancer Society as a board member and spokesperson, and the Junior League of Augusta, as Vice President. As a member of the Junior League, she was instrumental in the development of the Lynndale School for children with developmental disabilities, who had been underserved in the community. Mrs. Walker was ahead of her time in encouraging acceptance of people with disabilities, an attribute which she instilled in her children. She was also a founding member of the Heritage Club, president of Suburban Garden Club and president of the Augusta Symphony Guild.

In 1981, she became Vice President of Castleberry’s Food Company, which her grandfather, Clement Lamar Castleberry, and her father, Clement Stewart Castleberry, founded in 1924. While at Castleberry’s she served on the Board of Directors of the National Meat Canners Association and the National Association of Manufacturers. In the mid-eighties, she was chosen by her godparents, Mary Katherine and Howard Creel, to be president of the Creel Foundation, which was established in Houston, and later moved to Augusta by Mrs. Walker. She was a member of the Board of Directors of First Union Bank, the Board of Directors of the Lynndale School, and served on the Boards of Advisors to: the Augusta College School of Business, the Chairman of the Medical College of Georgia, the President of Mt. Vernon College, and the UGA Alumni Association. One of her favorite experiences was serving on the Board of Regents of the Sewanee: The University of the South, where she had the great privilege of meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

During her ninety years on this earth, Joan Walker lit up every room she entered with her radiant smile. When she committed to something she always followed through. She was fiercely devoted to her friends and family whom she loved without reserve. She had a heart of gold and was generous to a fault. As one friend said, she was a true original, full of style, full of life and a big dose of spice to keep everyone on their toes. Another friend said there is a hole in the fabric of the universe now that Joan Walker has left this world.

The family requests that any donations be made to The Hale Foundation, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or The Augusta Preparatory Day School.

Please sign the guestbook and send condolences at www.plattsfuneralhome.com.