When Sonia Walker graduated from Memphis Theological Seminary this past spring, her family, friends and acquaintances were not surprised at the accomplishment. Walker, a longtime Memphis, Tenn., television personality, has dedicated much of her life to achieving the improbable.
For instance, when a group at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) felt the congregation needed counseling services, Walker gave birth to the effort as the first director of the MBCC Counseling Center. Her work at the center was a natural fit. She has been trained in elementary education and has a master's degree in social work.
"There is something happening there that is quite powerful," Daniel Webster, pastor of Faith Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, Tenn., said about Walker's achievements. "I remember her very well. We are proud to claim Sonia as someone we have helped." Faith Christian has given Walker and other Disciples college students money from a scholarship fund established with gifts from two of its late members, Janice Davis and Mabel Wolf.
Walker, a director in public affairs at Memphis TV station WHBQ from 1974 to 1990, has always helped other people. She raised money for the city's public schools as head of Partners in Public Education in the mid-90s, and once served as regional director for the Black Family Reunion Celebration, a gathering that drew hundreds of visitors to her city.
On top of her school workload, Walker, 71, managed to give care support to her husband of 44 years, Walter, 72, who has multiple sclerosis. Walter Walker is former president of LeMoyne-Owen College. Sonia Walker also helps care for her 95-year-old mother. The Walkers reared three sons, all of whom have college degrees.
Sonia Walker graduated from Memphis Theological cum laude in May after attending school part-time for six years, and was awarded the Hoyt Hickman Award for Excellence in Liturgical Scholarship. But it wasn't easy. While attending seminary and keeping up with other obligations, Walker was also helping a low income woman get her very bright, daughter through college.
"God dropped Stacy in my life four years ago and it hasn't been the same since," said Walker. When Walker was at WHBQ, she'd get calls from people who would share their personal issues with her and ask for advice. One lady would call Walker periodically and talk about how tough it was to be a single mother with quite a few children. In 2004, Walker began to help the woman's daughter, Stacy.
Although Stacy had financial and social challenges to overcome, her grades suggested that she was academically gifted and boldly courageous. When Stacy dropped out of the University of Cincinnati after one quarter because she ran out of money, Stacy found a boatload of scholarship support for at Tuskegee Institute, an Alabama college, but she needed more than that. Walker went to work, and recruited others from Mississippi Boulevard to pitch in and help the financially struggling college student, including Joyce Blackmon, Edith Kelly Green and the church's minister of music, Leo H. Davis, who became the primary "godparents."
"Somebody gave her a printer for her computer. Somebody else gave her some bedding, money, gift cards and checks," recalled Walker. However, just as Stacy was about to leave for Tuskegee, an administrator at Christian Brothers College in Memphis came up with enough money to offer her a scholarship at CBC. Stacy decided to attend Christian Brothers, to be closer to her support system, but her challenges continued.
"Her journey has been every time you turn around stuff falls apart," said Walker. For example, Stacy lost her computer, radio and CD player because of a power surge at her dorm during Christmas break. Another time, her car was smashed by a hit-and-run driver, and another car that someone gave her was stolen and wrecked.
"We went from one crisis to the next. This girl has been in my life and in my house," said Walker. "She and her "godparents" have had parent-daughter throw downs, as well as very tender moments. People have helped her with her rent, health care and so much more. Her story needs to be documented and made into a movie. Through it all, we continued to help her. Even my husband got drafted to hear the latest crisis when I was not available" That help paid off. This past May, Stacy graduated from Christian Brothers with a degree in marketing the day before Walker graduated from MTS.
Despite the ups and downs, it was worth it, said Walker. "How can you talk about ministry and you turn your back on an African-American woman or a man, who is as bright as you are or brighter. I had my turn. My kids had their turn. It was her turn."
Walker did her parish practicum this past fall at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Memphis, a predominantly white congregation. She has remained as a pastoral volunteer and will be joining the ministerial staff part time this fall.
By: James Patterson, freelance writer
jpatterson@cm.disciples.org