Barbara (Bobbie) Varnadoe Walker

Published 7:43 pm Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Barbara (Bobbie) Varnadoe Walker, 83, of Tifton, peacefully passed away at Tift Regional Medical Center Saturday, August 9, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors. Elder John S. Mikell and Elder Billy Mullis of Waycross will officiate. Burial will be at Oakridge Cemetery with Elder Paul Thomas presiding at the family plot. The family will receive friends from 6 until  8 p.m. Thursday at Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors. Pallbearers will be Mack Branch, Jimmy Walker, Ryan Woodard, Jonathan Walker, Rob Flick, Roger Walker Jr., Alan Moore, Andy Oliver, William White, John White and Jackie Cooper. Jerry Coley, Harvey Hatcher, Joe Lawrence, Harold Benson, Ray Henderson, Marty Mullis, David Clements, Ricky Benson, Dickie Hilton and Randy Hill will serve as her honor group.

Miss Bobbie was born August 13, 1930 in Brooksville Fla., to Robert Julian and Mildred Louise Hudson Varnadoe, both deceased.  Also preceding her in death were her husband, Eston Lamar Walker; two sisters, Elouise Varnadoe Oliver and Doris Varnadoe Selph; a brother, Robert Julian Varnadoe Jr.; and her stepmother, Grace Cooper Varnadoe.

She lived in Tifton, moving from Brooksville, Fla. when she was 12 years old. She graduated from Tifton High School and attended Florida State University.

She met the love of her life at the age of 14. They double-dated with her sister, Louise, and his brother, James, who also later married.

As double-first cousins, their children enjoyed growing up living across the street from each other. They went together for five years while she was attending school, and on Easter Sunday, March 25, 1951, they were married and enjoyed 60 wonderful and happy years together. Her husband passed away on his birthday, May 9, 2011 and life for her was never the same.   

They were blessed to have three children, two daughters and a son, Kathryn Lynn Walker Branch, Karen Leigh Walker Haynes and Eston Lamar Walker Jr.

She was a loving wife to her husband, a caring mother to her children, and a wonderful grandmother to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a homemaker who loved her family dearly and was always thrilled when they came home. She enjoyed working in her yard and cooking. She especially loved to cook for others and was known for her “Walker Brownies.”

During her lifetime, she compiled three memory books for her children and also arranged seven recipe books of her special dishes for her children and grandchildren. She and her husband built three houses which they lived in during their years together.

After 37years of working as the Children’s Librarian at the Tifton-Tift County Public Library and working under seven head librarians, she retired. She introduced many children to the “Wonderful World of Reading” and was thrilled when they walked up to the circulation desk to check out books.

She was a member of the Twentieth Century Library Club, and she and her husband were volunteers with Meals on Wheels for many years.

She joined Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church June 5, 1960 and was a faithful and dedicated member for 53 years. She served as director of Youth Fellowship, supply chairman and helped to write the church history book. She wrote many memorials for deceased members and was instrumental in organizing the Alice Clements Circle. She loved her Lord, family and church.

Mrs. Walker is survived by one son, Eston Lamar Walker Jr. and his wife, Michele of Canton; two daughters, Kathe Walker Branch and husband, Jerry of Tifton, and Karen Walker Haynes and husband, Richard of Lexington, S.C.; four grandchildren, Laurel Branch Lamb and husband, Clay of Tifton, Mack Branch and wife, Tamara of Tifton, Heidi Hawthorne Cartledge and husband, Zac of Lexington, S.C. and Abbey Michele Walker of Canton; two great-grandchildren, Zoe and Zane Cartledge of Lexington, S.C.; a sister, Louise Walker; a brother-in-law, Bobby Walker; a sister, Rhonda Varnadoe White and brother, Jackie Cooper; three sisters-in-law, Elsie Walker Moore, Audrey Barfield Walker and Betty Royal Walker; several nieces and nephews whom she loved very much and many friends who were a wonderful part of her life.

Flowers will be accepted but contributions may be made to Hospice of Tiftarea, P.O. 747, Tifton, GA 31793, Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 2053, Tifton, GAv31793 or Mt. Olive Memorial Fund, c/o Bobby Walker, 1202 Prince Ave., Tifton, GA 31794.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Tiftarea, Dr. Lorraine Sumner, Tift Regional Hospital and Dr. Jessica Pate. They will also treasure Letha Hartley, Sharon Curry and staff for their loving care for the nine days their mother lived at Cypress Pond.

Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.