Obituaries

In Memory of
Rev. Leolis Quinn Walker
April 8, 1924 - February 21, 2016

Reverend Leolis Quinn Walker

Passed on February 21, 2016

Reverend Leolis Quinn Walker was born on April 8, 1924 in Waynesboro, Georgia and she peacefully transitioned to her reward ~ surrounded by family ~ on Sunday, February 21, 2016.

Leolis was the youngest of nine children nurtured in a Christian home. Accepting Christ at an early age, she converted at St. Andrews AME Church in Memphis, Tennessee where she was involved in the Sunday School, the Allen Christian Endeavor League, and the Young Peoples Department of the Womens Missionary Society.

Growing up in the old south, Leolis attended Memphis, Tennessee public schools and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School.

When she was seventeen, the family moved to Washington, DC in 1941 and joined Ward Memorial AME Church under the Pastorate of the late Rev. Walter L. Hildebrand. Leolis was inspired by her father, Anderson Quinns solos with the Senior Choir and by Tullies commitment to the Missionary Society. As a Lay person at Ward Memorial, her Christian education and experiences were greatly inspired through the teachings received at Ward and through participation in the 2nd Episcopal District, Washington Conference, Capital District programs. She served as a teacher of Christian education and the Sunday school and as a YPD Director. A skilled musician, she sang in the Senior Choir and also served as a pianist, organist, and choir director for children, youth and adults. In 1950, Leolis was selected to be a youth delegate to the Mid~Century White House Conference on Children and Youth, under President Harry S. Truman.

Leolis acknowledged her call from God early in life but answered the call to preach as she matriculated at Howard University. In 1981, she went on to receive her Certification as Chaplin through St. Elizabeths Hospital Outreach Program in Washington DC and was later ordained a Local Elder to serve at Ward Memorial AME Church. The orders were subsequently changed to Itinerant Elder by the Washington Annual Conference and by the grace of God and the support of Ward Memorial AME Church, in December, 1981, she organized and founded the Good Shepherd AME Mission in Maryland.

The Mission was admitted to the Washington Annual Conference in 1982 as the Good Shepherd AME Church by Bishop John Hurst Adams and Rev. Leolis Walker was appointed its first Pastor and she initiated the Ministry to Homeless Children and Families. Because of the success of her vision and the help she provided to the community, Good Shepherd AME Mission became Good Shepherd AME Church, Ministry to Homeless Children and Families~ the first ministry beyond the sanctuary in the Washington Conference. With generous support from Ward Memorial AME Church and the Washington Conference, the Ministry served over 250 families~ including 700 children ~ at the Capital City Inn, Shelter for the Homeless in Washington, DC for many years. The ministry included Sunday and Saturday school, tutoring and mentoring enrichment programs; and field trips. More importantly it provided families with food, furniture, household goods, and clothing. In 14 months, Rev. Walker distributed more than 8,500 pounds of clothing and care packages to underprivileged families and people in need and baptized fifty~five adults and children.

In 1988, Rev. Walker was also recognized for the Christian religious education and crisis intervention services that were provided by Good Shepherd AME Church at the Capital City Inn Shelter by receiving PEPCOs Annual Community Service Award.

Rev. Walker worked thirty~three years in the federal government (Dept. of State, Dept. of Agriculture GS~12) and several years for the District of Columbia Public School system where she retired in 1976. However, with her strong desire to continue her work as a true servant of the Lord, she took on the position as Executive Director for Womens Housing at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA the 1993.

She was united in Holy Matrimony to James C. Brown and to this union, two children, James and Anita Brown, were born. In 1961, she later married Robert L. Walker; and they had one son, Anderson Q. Walker, who preceded her in death in 2014.

Leolis touched many lives. She was a loving mother, sister, grandmother, great~grandmother, aunt and friend. Leolis enjoyed hosting family and friends gatherings at the home. She was a spiritual leader at Quinn Crawford Family Reunions; and she officiated at the wedding of her great~niece, Regina Latimore, to Rayvon Faulks and son, James Brown, to Karen Mills Brown.

She was proud to reach 90 years young and was often heard saying Celebrating my 90th birthday is a blessing. Through her progressive illness, she was affectionately and faithfully cared for by Anita Brown, daughter, Valenzia Williams, granddaughter and Theodore Williams, grandson in~law.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anderson, Essie and Tullie Quinn; grandparents, Jeff & Rosanna Quinn, and Henry & Vinie Crawford; sisters, Queen Esther Quinn and Annabelle Crawford; brothers, William, John, and Henry Quinn; husbands, James C. Brown and Robert L. Walker; stepdaughter, Shirley Temple~Lee Parker; stepson, Paul Stewart Walker; daughter~in~law Karen Mills~Brown; son, Anderson Walker; nephew, Steven Miller and a multitude of family angels that left way too soon.

She leaves to mourn, her beloved family: son, James C. Brown Jr.; daughter, Anita L. Brown; step~daughters Elizabeth Byrd, Dorothy Calloway (Nathaniel Calloway); step~sons, Charles Booty Walker (Ann Walker), granddaughters, Lynette Taylor, Valenzia Williams (Theodore Williams), Sylvia Walker, Kimberley Edwards (Anthony Edwards), Joetta Fleming (George Fleming); grandsons, Keith Brown, Robert L. Walker II, Jason Brown, Joe Harris Jr., Kenneth Harris, Edward Walker; Beloved sister, Vinie Q. Miller; cousin, Walter Gray (Amanda Gray), ; niece Mildred Jefferson; and a host of family and friends including, The Philadelphia Family, The North Carolina Family, The Tennessee Family, The Georgia Family, The Winchester VA., The Brown Family, The Roanoke Family and The Texas Family.

Rev. Walkers Services will be celebrated at Ward Memorial AME Church, 241 42nd St. NE, Washington, DC on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Her visitation will be held from 10am~11am, where her service will begin at 11am.



























Reverend Leolis Quinn Walker

Passed on February 21, 2016

Reverend Leolis Quinn Walker was born on April 8, 1924 in Waynesboro, Georgia and she peacefully transitioned to her reward ~ surrounded by family ~ on Sunday, February 21, 2016.

Leolis was the youngest of nine children nurtured in a Christian home. Accepting Christ at an early age, she converted at St. Andrews AME Church in Memphis, Tennessee where she was involved in the Sunday School, the Allen Christian Endeavor League, and the Young People’s Department of the Women’s Missionary Society.

Growing up in the old south, Leolis attended Memphis, Tennessee public schools and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School.

When she was seventeen, the family moved to Washington, DC in 1941 and joined Ward Memorial AME Church under the Pastorate of the late Rev. Walter L. Hildebrand. Leolis was inspired by her father, Anderson Quinn’s solos with the Senior Choir and by Tullie’s commitment to the Missionary Society. As a Lay person at Ward Memorial, her Christian education and experiences were greatly inspired through the teachings received at Ward and through participation in the 2nd Episcopal District, Washington Conference, Capital District programs. She served as a teacher of Christian education and the Sunday school and as a YPD Director. A skilled musician, she sang in the Senior Choir and also served as a pianist, organist, and choir director for children, youth and adults. In 1950, Leolis was selected to be a youth delegate to the Mid~Century White House Conference on Children and Youth, under President Harry S. Truman.

Leolis acknowledged her call from God early in life but answered the call to preach as she matriculated at Howard University. In 1981, she went on to receive her Certification as Chaplin through St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Outreach Program in Washington DC and was later ordained a Local Elder to serve at Ward Memorial AME Church. The orders were subsequently changed to Itinerant Elder by the Washington Annual Conference and by the grace of God and the support of Ward Memorial AME Church, in December, 1981, she organized and founded the Good Shepherd AME Mission in Maryland.

The Mission was admitted to the Washington Annual Conference in 1982 as the Good Shepherd AME Church by Bishop John Hurst Adams and Rev. Leolis Walker was appointed its first Pastor and she initiated the Ministry to Homeless Children and Families. Because of the success of her vision and the help she provided to the community, Good Shepherd AME Mission became Good Shepherd AME Church, Ministry to Homeless Children and Families~ the first ministry beyond the sanctuary in the Washington Conference. With generous support from Ward Memorial AME Church and the Washington Conference, the Ministry served over 250 families~ including 700 children ~ at the Capital City Inn, Shelter for the Homeless in Washington, DC for many years. The ministry included Sunday and Saturday school, tutoring and mentoring enrichment programs; and field trips. More importantly it provided families with food, furniture, household goods, and clothing. In 14 months, Rev. Walker distributed more than 8,500 pounds of clothing and care packages to underprivileged families and people in need and baptized fifty~five adults and children.

In 1988, Rev. Walker was also recognized for the Christian religious education and crisis intervention services that were provided by Good Shepherd AME Church at the Capital City Inn Shelter by receiving PEPCO’s Annual Community Service Award.

Rev. Walker worked thirty~three years in the federal government (Dept. of State, Dept. of Agriculture GS~12) and several years for the District of Columbia Public School system where she retired in 1976. However, with her strong desire to continue her work as a true servant of the Lord, she took on the position as Executive Director for Women’s Housing at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA the 1993.

She was united in Holy Matrimony to James C. Brown and to this union, two children, James and Anita Brown, were born. In 1961, she later married Robert L. Walker; and they had one son, Anderson Q. Walker, who preceded her in death in 2014.

Leolis touched many lives. She was a loving mother, sister, grandmother, great~grandmother, aunt and friend. Leolis enjoyed hosting family and friends gatherings at the home. She was a spiritual leader at Quinn Crawford Family Reunions; and she officiated at the wedding of her great~niece, Regina Latimore, to Rayvon Faulks and son, James Brown, to Karen Mills Brown.

She was proud to reach 90 years young and was often heard saying Celebrating my 90th birthday is a blessing. Through her progressive illness, she was affectionately and faithfully cared for by Anita Brown, daughter, Valenzia Williams, granddaughter and Theodore Williams, grandson in~law.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anderson, Essie and Tullie Quinn; grandparents, Jeff & Rosanna Quinn, and Henry & Vinie Crawford; sisters, Queen Esther Quinn and Annabelle Crawford; brothers, William, John, and Henry Quinn; husbands, James C. Brown and Robert L. Walker; stepdaughter, Shirley Temple~Lee Parker; stepson, Paul Stewart Walker; daughter~in~law Karen Mills~Brown; son, Anderson Walker; nephew, Steven Miller and a multitude of family angels that left way too soon.

She leaves to mourn, her beloved family: son, James C. Brown Jr.; daughter, Anita L. Brown; step~daughters Elizabeth Byrd, Dorothy Calloway (Nathaniel Calloway); step~sons, Charles Booty Walker (Ann Walker), granddaughters, Lynette Taylor, Valenzia Williams (Theodore Williams), Sylvia Walker, Kimberley Edwards (Anthony Edwards), Joetta Fleming (George Fleming); grandsons, Keith Brown, Robert L. Walker II, Jason Brown, Joe Harris Jr., Kenneth Harris, Edward Walker; Beloved sister, Vinie Q. Miller; cousin, Walter Gray (Amanda Gray), ; niece Mildred Jefferson; and a host of family and friends including, The Philadelphia Family, The North Carolina Family, The Tennessee Family, The Georgia Family, The Winchester VA., The Brown Family, The Roanoke Family and The Texas Family.

Rev. Walker’s Services will be celebrated at Ward Memorial AME Church, 241 42nd St. NE, Washington, DC on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Her visitation will be held from 10am~11am, where her service will begin at 11am.



























Reverend Leolis Quinn Walker

Passed on February 21, 2016

Reverend Leolis Quinn Walker was born on April 8, 1924 in Waynesboro, Georgia and she peacefully transitioned to her reward — surrounded by family — on Sunday, February 21, 2016.

Leolis was the youngest of nine children nurtured in a Christian home. Accepting Christ at an early age, she converted at St. Andrews AME Church in Memphis, Tennessee where she was involved in the Sunday School, the Allen Christian Endeavor League, and the Young People’s Department of the Women’s Missionary Society.

Growing up in the old south, Leolis attended Memphis, Tennessee public schools and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School.

When she was seventeen, the family moved to Washington, DC in 1941 and joined Ward Memorial AME Church under the Pastorate of the late Rev. Walter L. Hildebrand. Leolis was inspired by her father, Anderson Quinn’s solos with the Senior Choir and by Tullie’s commitment to the Missionary Society. As a Lay person at Ward Memorial, her Christian education and experiences were greatly inspired through the teachings received at Ward and through participation in the 2nd Episcopal District, Washington Conference, Capital District programs. She served as a teacher of Christian education and the Sunday school and as a YPD Director. A skilled musician, she sang in the Senior Choir and also served as a pianist, organist, and choir director for children, youth and adults. In 1950, Leolis was selected to be a youth delegate to the Mid-Century White House Conference on Children and Youth, under President Harry S. Truman.

Leolis acknowledged her call from God early in life but answered the call to preach as she matriculated at Howard University. In 1981, she went on to receive her Certification as Chaplin through St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Outreach Program in Washington DC and was later ordained a Local Elder to serve at Ward Memorial AME Church. The orders were subsequently changed to Itinerant Elder by the Washington Annual Conference and by the grace of God and the support of Ward Memorial AME Church, in December, 1981, she organized and founded the Good Shepherd AME Mission in Maryland.

The Mission was admitted to the Washington Annual Conference in 1982 as the Good Shepherd AME Church by Bishop John Hurst Adams and Rev. Leolis Walker was appointed its first Pastor and she initiated the Ministry to Homeless Children and Families. Because of the success of her vision and the help she provided to the community, Good Shepherd AME Mission became Good Shepherd AME Church, Ministry to Homeless Children and Families – the first ministry beyond the sanctuary in the Washington Conference. With generous support from Ward Memorial AME Church and the Washington Conference, the Ministry served over 250 families – including 700 children — at the Capital City Inn, Shelter for the Homeless in Washington, DC for many years. The ministry included Sunday and Saturday school, tutoring and mentoring enrichment programs; and field trips. More importantly it provided families with food, furniture, household goods, and clothing. In 14 months, Rev. Walker distributed more than 8,500 pounds of clothing and care packages to underprivileged families and people in need and baptized fifty-five adults and children.

In 1988, Rev. Walker was also recognized for the Christian religious education and crisis intervention services that were provided by Good Shepherd AME Church at the Capital City Inn Shelter by receiving PEPCO’s Annual Community Service Award.

Rev. Walker worked thirty-three years in the federal government (Dept. of State, Dept. of Agriculture GS-12) and several years for the District of Columbia Public School system where she retired in 1976. However, with her strong desire to continue her work as a true servant of the Lord, she took on the position as Executive Director for Women’s Housing at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA the 1993.

She was united in Holy Matrimony to James C. Brown and to this union, two children, James and Anita Brown, were born. In 1961, she later married Robert L. Walker; and they had one son, Anderson Q. Walker, who preceded her in death in 2014.

Leolis touched many lives. She was a loving mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Leolis enjoyed hosting family and friends gatherings at the home. She was a spiritual leader at Quinn Crawford Family Reunions; and she officiated at the wedding of her great-niece, Regina Latimore, to Rayvon Faulks and son, James Brown, to Karen Mills Brown.

She was proud to reach 90 years young and was often heard saying Celebrating my 90th birthday is a blessing. Through her progressive illness, she was affectionately and faithfully cared for by Anita Brown, daughter, Valenzia Williams, granddaughter and Theodore Williams, grandson in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anderson, Essie and Tullie Quinn; grandparents, Jeff & Rosanna Quinn, and Henry & Vinie Crawford; sisters, Queen Esther Quinn and Annabelle Crawford; brothers, William, John, and Henry Quinn; husbands, James C. Brown and Robert L. Walker; stepdaughter, Shirley Temple-Lee Parker; stepson, Paul Stewart Walker; daughter-in-law Karen Mills-Brown; son, Anderson Walker; nephew, Steven Miller and a multitude of family angels that left way too soon.

She leaves to mourn, her beloved family: son, James C. Brown Jr.; daughter, Anita L. Brown; step-daughters Elizabeth Byrd, Dorothy Calloway (Nathaniel Calloway); step-sons, Charles Booty Walker (Ann Walker), granddaughters, Lynette Taylor, Valenzia Williams (Theodore Williams), Sylvia Walker, Kimberley Edwards (Anthony Edwards), Joetta Fleming (George Fleming); grandsons, Keith Brown, Robert L. Walker II, Jason Brown, Joe Harris Jr., Kenneth Harris, Edward Walker; Beloved sister, Vinie Q. Miller; cousin, Walter Gray (Amanda Gray), ; niece Mildred Jefferson; and a host of family and friends including, The Philadelphia Family, The North Carolina Family, The Tennessee Family, The Georgia Family, The Winchester VA., The Brown Family, The Roanoke Family and The Texas Family.

Rev. Walker’s Services will be celebrated at Ward Memorial AME Church, 241 42nd St. NE, Washington, DC on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Her visitation will be held from 10am-11am, where her service will begin at 11am.



























Reverend Leolis Quinn Walker

Passed on February 21, 2016
Leolis WalkerReverend Leolis Quinn Walker was born on April 8, 1924 in Waynesboro, Georgia and she peacefully transitioned to her reward — surrounded by family — on Sunday, February 21, 2016.

Leolis was the youngest of nine children nurtured in a Christian home. Accepting Christ at an early age, she converted at St. Andrews AME Church in Memphis, Tennessee where she was involved in the Sunday School, the Allen Christian Endeavor League, and the Young People’s Department of the Women’s Missionary Society.

Growing up in the old south, Leolis attended Memphis, Tennessee public schools and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School.

When she was seventeen, the family moved to Washington, DC in 1941 and joined Ward Memorial AME Church under the Pastorate of the late Rev. Walter L. Hildebrand. Leolis was inspired by her father, Anderson Quinn’s solos with the Senior Choir and by Tullie’s commitment to the Missionary Society. As a Lay person at Ward Memorial, her Christian education and experiences were greatly inspired through the teachings received at Ward and through participation in the 2nd Episcopal District, Washington Conference, Capital District programs. She served as a teacher of Christian education and the Sunday school and as a YPD Director. A skilled musician, she sang in the Senior Choir and also served as a pianist, organist, and choir director for children, youth and adults.

In 1950, Leolis was selected to be a youth delegate to the Mid-Century White House Conference on Children and Youth, under President Harry S. Truman.

Leolis acknowledged her call from God early in life but answered the call to preach as she matriculated at Howard University. In 1981, she went on to receive her Certification as Chaplin through St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Outreach Program in Washington DC and was later ordained a Local Elder to serve at Ward Memorial AME Church. The orders were subsequently changed to Itinerant Elder by the Washington Annual Conference and by the grace of God and the support of Ward Memorial AME Church, in December, 1981, she organized and founded the Good Shepherd AME Mission in Maryland.

The Mission was admitted to the Washington Annual Conference in 1982 as the Good Shepherd AME Church by Bishop John Hurst Adams and Rev. Leolis Walker was appointed its first Pastor and she initiated the Ministry to Homeless Children and Families. Because of the success of her vision and the help she provided to the community, Good Shepherd AME Mission became Good Shepherd AME Church, Ministry to Homeless Children and Families – the first ministry beyond the sanctuary in the Washington Conference. With generous support from Ward Memorial AME Church and the Washington Conference, the Ministry served over 250 families – including 700 children — at the Capital City Inn, Shelter for the Homeless in Washington, DC for many years. The ministry included Sunday and Saturday school, tutoring and mentoring enrichment programs; and field trips. More importantly it provided families with food, furniture, household goods, and clothing. In 14 months, Rev. Walker distributed more than 8,500 pounds of clothing and care packages to underprivileged families and people in need and baptized fifty-five adults and children.

In 1988, Rev. Walker was also recognized for the Christian religious education and crisis intervention services that were provided by Good Shepherd AME Church at the Capital City Inn Shelter by receiving PEPCO’s Annual Community Service Award.

Rev. Walker worked thirty-three years in the federal government (Dept. of State, Dept. of Agriculture GS-12) and several years for the District of Columbia Public School system where she retired in 1976. However, with her strong desire to continue her work as a true servant of the Lord, she took on the position as Executive Director for Women’s Housing at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA the 1993.

She was united in Holy Matrimony to James C. Brown and to this union, two children, James and Anita Brown, were born. In 1961, she later married Robert L. Walker; and they had one son, Anderson Q. Walker, who preceded her in death in 2014.

Leolis touched many lives. She was a loving mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Leolis enjoyed hosting family and friends gatherings at the home. She was a spiritual leader at Quinn Crawford Family Reunions; and she officiated at the wedding of her great-niece, Regina Latimore, to Rayvon Faulks and son, James Brown, to Karen Mills Brown.

She was proud to reach 90 years young and was often heard saying “Celebrating my 90th birthday is a blessing.”

Through her progressive illness, she was affectionately and faithfully cared for by Anita Brown, daughter, Valenzia Williams, granddaughter and Theodore Williams, grandson in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anderson, Essie and Tullie Quinn; grandparents, Jeff & Rosanna Quinn, and Henry & Vinie Crawford; sisters, Queen Esther Quinn and Annabelle Crawford; brothers, William, John, and Henry Quinn; husbands, James C. Brown and Robert L. Walker; stepdaughter, Shirley Temple-Lee Parker; stepson, Paul Stewart Walker; daughter-in-law Karen Mills-Brown; son, Anderson Walker; nephew, Steven Miller and a multitude of family angels that left way too soon.

She leaves to mourn, her beloved family: son, James C. Brown Jr.; daughter, Anita L. Brown; step-daughters Elizabeth Byrd, Dorothy Calloway (Nathaniel Calloway); step-sons, Charles Booty Walker (Ann Walker), granddaughters, Lynette Taylor, Valenzia Williams (Theodore Williams), Sylvia Walker, Kimberley Edwards (Anthony Edwards), Joetta Fleming (George Fleming); grandsons, Keith Brown, Robert L. Walker II, Jason Brown, Joe Harris Jr., Kenneth Harris, Edward Walker; Beloved sister, Vinie Q. Miller; cousin, Walter Gray (Amanda Gray), ; niece Mildred Jefferson; and a host of family and friends including, The Philadelphia Family, The North Carolina Family, The Tennessee Family, The Georgia Family, The Winchester VA., The Brown Family, The Roanoke Family and The Texas Family.

Rev. Walker’s Services will be celebrated at Ward Memorial AME Church, 241 42nd St. NE, Washington, DC on Saturday, March 5, 2016. Her visitation will be held from 10am-11am, where her service will begin at 11am.