Obituary for Gertrude Walker (Roberts)
Gertrude (Gert) Roberts Walker, the first child of Hubert and Lessie Turner Roberts, was born December 11, 1936, in Sardis, Georgia. She held the honored position of being the eldest of nine siblings.
It was during her infancy that she contracted poliomyelitis, a viral illness that weakens muscles in the body. As a result, her ability to walk was delayed; she was two years old before she made her first steps. From that point on, however, her delayed first steps became only stepping stones for the strides she made in her education, church affiliations, personal fulfillment, employment, and in the community at-large while constantly nurturing her family relationships.
Her formal education began at McCanaan Church School, a one -room school near her home. Later she attended Cousins Jr. High School in Sardis, Georgia, where she enjoyed being a Girl Scout. She also attended Waynesboro High and Industrial School before completing high school at Boggs Academy, a privately-run boarding school in Keysville, Georgia. She then furthered her education at Savannah State College.
Gert’s life was faith-based. She joined First McCanaan Baptist Church in Sardis at an early age. There she was a Sunday school student and a junior missionary. While in school at Boggs Academy, her Christian life was enriched when she attended the required two church services on Sundays and prayer service on Wednesday evenings. That practice of attending church services regularly remained with her for her entire life. She maintained an associate membership with First McCanaan throughout her life even as she united in membership at Antioch Rock Creek Baptist Church in Waynesboro in 1963. She was a faithful member there, serving as a deaconess, missionary, choir member, and a member of the Mother Board. She joyfully attended and supported programs at both churches.
Gert enriched her life personally with her marriage to Lee Westley Walker on August 18, 1963. They shared a fulfilling life together for 38 years. They enjoyed growing lots of fruits and vegetables in their spare time. She and Westley had no children of their own but shared guardianship of Robert Baynham, Westley’s brother.
She had a strong work ethic. For many years, she worked at Burke County Hospital as a surgical technician and had a longstanding working relationship with Dr. Walter Voyles, a prominent, local surgeon. Later she worked at Brentwood Nursing Home in Waynesboro and at Keysville Nursing Home in Keysville, Georgia.
In the community, Gert was a life member of New Aurora Chapter No. 60 Order of the Eastern Stars where she served as Worthy Matron. Having developed an interest in singing while attending Boggs Academy, Gert not only sang in her church choir but was a member of the Sardis-Girard Community Choir for many years. She also enjoyed sharing time with her friends and doing word search puzzles at the Senior Citizen Center in Waynesboro.
Family relationships were important to Gert. She maintained regular communication with close and distant relatives, and she enjoyed gracing her siblings with beautiful Hallmark birthday and Christmas cards. Her perseverance, faith, courage, bravery, generosity, punctuality, and reliability gave inspiration to her family.
On Tuesday, January 19, 2021, Gert departed this life at PruittHealth- Bethany in Millen, Georgia.
Gert was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, guardian, aunt, and friend. Preceding her in death are her husband, Lee Westley Walker; parents, Hubert Roberts, Sr. and Lessie Turner Roberts; brother, Hubert Roberts, Jr.; sisters-in law, Carolyn Williams Roberts, and Gloria Simmons Roberts; brother-in–law, Sidney Williams; nephews, Dr. Barry Brandon Sello and Christopher Turner Roberts and niece, Tonjaleac Baynham.
She leaves to cherish her memory: a special brother-in-law, Robert Baynham of Vidette, GA, and his children; seven siblings: Wilbert (Patricia) Roberts of Waynesboro, GA; Annette (Jake) Sello of Columbia, SC; Clinton (Sharon) Roberts of Sardis, GA; Evelyn Williams and Ethel (Lafayette) Williams of Augusta, GA; Lenwood Roberts of Statesboro, GA; and Carl Roberts of Sardis, GA.; two aunts, Lois Turner of Goulds, FL, and Margaret Turner of Covington, GA; “special children,” Lee Otis (Ethel) McBride and Mary Turner of Waynesboro, GA; “little sister”, Ruth Reddy of Augusta, GA; god-daughter; Julie (Tim) Jones of Augusta, GA and a host of nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, numerous cousins, special friends and the Antioch Rock Creek Baptist Church family.
It was during her infancy that she contracted poliomyelitis, a viral illness that weakens muscles in the body. As a result, her ability to walk was delayed; she was two years old before she made her first steps. From that point on, however, her delayed first steps became only stepping stones for the strides she made in her education, church affiliations, personal fulfillment, employment, and in the community at-large while constantly nurturing her family relationships.
Her formal education began at McCanaan Church School, a one -room school near her home. Later she attended Cousins Jr. High School in Sardis, Georgia, where she enjoyed being a Girl Scout. She also attended Waynesboro High and Industrial School before completing high school at Boggs Academy, a privately-run boarding school in Keysville, Georgia. She then furthered her education at Savannah State College.
Gert’s life was faith-based. She joined First McCanaan Baptist Church in Sardis at an early age. There she was a Sunday school student and a junior missionary. While in school at Boggs Academy, her Christian life was enriched when she attended the required two church services on Sundays and prayer service on Wednesday evenings. That practice of attending church services regularly remained with her for her entire life. She maintained an associate membership with First McCanaan throughout her life even as she united in membership at Antioch Rock Creek Baptist Church in Waynesboro in 1963. She was a faithful member there, serving as a deaconess, missionary, choir member, and a member of the Mother Board. She joyfully attended and supported programs at both churches.
Gert enriched her life personally with her marriage to Lee Westley Walker on August 18, 1963. They shared a fulfilling life together for 38 years. They enjoyed growing lots of fruits and vegetables in their spare time. She and Westley had no children of their own but shared guardianship of Robert Baynham, Westley’s brother.
She had a strong work ethic. For many years, she worked at Burke County Hospital as a surgical technician and had a longstanding working relationship with Dr. Walter Voyles, a prominent, local surgeon. Later she worked at Brentwood Nursing Home in Waynesboro and at Keysville Nursing Home in Keysville, Georgia.
In the community, Gert was a life member of New Aurora Chapter No. 60 Order of the Eastern Stars where she served as Worthy Matron. Having developed an interest in singing while attending Boggs Academy, Gert not only sang in her church choir but was a member of the Sardis-Girard Community Choir for many years. She also enjoyed sharing time with her friends and doing word search puzzles at the Senior Citizen Center in Waynesboro.
Family relationships were important to Gert. She maintained regular communication with close and distant relatives, and she enjoyed gracing her siblings with beautiful Hallmark birthday and Christmas cards. Her perseverance, faith, courage, bravery, generosity, punctuality, and reliability gave inspiration to her family.
On Tuesday, January 19, 2021, Gert departed this life at PruittHealth- Bethany in Millen, Georgia.
Gert was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, guardian, aunt, and friend. Preceding her in death are her husband, Lee Westley Walker; parents, Hubert Roberts, Sr. and Lessie Turner Roberts; brother, Hubert Roberts, Jr.; sisters-in law, Carolyn Williams Roberts, and Gloria Simmons Roberts; brother-in–law, Sidney Williams; nephews, Dr. Barry Brandon Sello and Christopher Turner Roberts and niece, Tonjaleac Baynham.
She leaves to cherish her memory: a special brother-in-law, Robert Baynham of Vidette, GA, and his children; seven siblings: Wilbert (Patricia) Roberts of Waynesboro, GA; Annette (Jake) Sello of Columbia, SC; Clinton (Sharon) Roberts of Sardis, GA; Evelyn Williams and Ethel (Lafayette) Williams of Augusta, GA; Lenwood Roberts of Statesboro, GA; and Carl Roberts of Sardis, GA.; two aunts, Lois Turner of Goulds, FL, and Margaret Turner of Covington, GA; “special children,” Lee Otis (Ethel) McBride and Mary Turner of Waynesboro, GA; “little sister”, Ruth Reddy of Augusta, GA; god-daughter; Julie (Tim) Jones of Augusta, GA and a host of nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, numerous cousins, special friends and the Antioch Rock Creek Baptist Church family.