Extracted from The Texas Christian Advocate
WALKER
Willis Berry Walker, son of Orange and Martha Walker, was born in
Jackson Parish, La., October 20, 1865, and died at Musgrove, Franklin County,
Texas, September 20, 1900, at 10 a. m.
November 26, 1885, he was
married to Miss Mollie P. Gore. Nine children were born to them,
five of whom are living--three boys and two girls, the eldest eleven years
of age, the youngest three months.
Bro. Walker was licensed to preach
in Gilmer Circuit in 1888, and was admitted on trial in the North
Texas Conference in November, 1890, at Texarkana, by Bishop Haygood;
admitted into full connection and ordained by Bishop Hargrove at Sherman
in 1892; was ordained elder by Bishop Hargrove at Bonham in 1891.
His first charge was Clarksville Circuit, which he served in 1891;
in 1892, he served Dalby Springs Circuit, Maxey Mission in 1893,
Fannin Circuit in 1894, Benvanue Mission in 1895 and 1896, and Chico Circuit
in 1897.
At the Annual Conference at Dallas in November, 1897, on account
of his wife's health, he located. He first lived near Glenwood, in
Upshur County. In 1898, and in March, 1899, he moved to Winnsboro,
and a little later to Musgrove, Texas, where he resided until his death.
Part of the time during the years folowing [sic] his location he taught
school, and employed the remainder in assisting the brethren of the
North and East Texas Conferences in revival meetings. Bro. Walker's
ministry was successful from the beginning, both as pastor and preacher,
and as the years grew upon him in his ministerial work, he increased
wonderfully in power and ability, so that for some time before his death
he could not fill the demands for his services.
The season just now
ending was filled with successful revival work, with a number of the
brethren, in which many souls found Christ under his teaching.
He was in the midst of a meeting with Bro. W. F. Hardy, at Texarkana,
when called home by sickness in his family, and came home sick himself,
to answer the call of the Lord in a very few days.
He no sooner had
reached home when he grew rapidly worse, and continued to develop
serious symptoms every day. His whole physical frame seemed to yield
to disease at once. When told by his physician that he could live only
a few hours, he said simply that he had hoped to work longer in the
vineyard of the Lord. Said he: ``I had intended making application
this fall for readmission into the conference, but now I shall take
work in the Great Conference of heaven. There's no location nor
superannuation there,'' and he paused and reflected a moment and said,
``Call the children,'' and they were brought in and came around his
bed. Taking each one of the little ones, he kissed them good-bye and
gave them his parting blessing.
Lastly he spoke to his wife, and
a scene followed that no words can describe, and then, at his request,
all present bowed in prayer around his bedside. No more solemn,
no more glorious, scene was ever enacted on earth. The triumph over
death and the grave was there exemplified.
For hours he continued
to talk of God's goodness and mercy, and amidst the most excuciating
pain and suffering, and with labored breath, he rehearsed God's promises,
he declared his faith, he preached and exhorted, he sang songs.
Sometimes his mind would wander, and he would address himself to bygone
friends, and then he would instantly return to a rational frame of mind.
But to tell of all the wonderful experiences of that triumph of the soul
over death would require too much space.
At 10 o'clock Thursday morning
he quietly breathed his last. Just before he expired he repeated the
apostolic benediction with great fervor and spirit, and then
``Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace,'' and shortly after
his spirit went away with the angels.
GUS GARRISON.
Thursday, November 29, 1900