Mrs. Jane Hawkins Walker, 87
Mrs. Jane Hawkins Walker was born Nov. 30, 1937, and died Oct. 23, 2025. The daughter of Lawrence H. and Selma C. Hawkins of Macon, she grew up in Macon and attended Gresham Grammar School, Miller Jr. and Miller Sr. high schools in Macon. She attended Young Harris College where she was a Class Speaker at the YHC graduation in 1959 and attended Wesleyan College where she majored in English. In 1960, she married Billy W. Walker and moved to McRae where B.W. Walker established his law practice of 34 years before his death in 1994.
After his death, at the age of 62, she decided to fulfill a lifelong aspiration to write a novel, which was published in 2002. To her surprise, it was awarded a President’s award for Best Adult Fiction by the Florida Publishing Association, Inc., in 2003. Encouraged by this, she authored other books, sometimes as a coauthor, the writing of which was a shield against loneliness, following her husband’s death.
She belonged to McRae United Methodist Church and taught Sunday School for over 45 years in McRae and Macon. She was a student of the Bible, having read it cover to cover many times and every day for many years and usually taught her Sunday School classes straight from the Bible. A former member of the D.A.R., she also belonged to the McRae Duplicate Bridge Club, the Pioneer Historical Society, and was president of the Telfair Arts Association for a number of years. She was chairman of the Lightered Knot Association which produced the outdoor drama The Lightered Knot. This was performed at Little Ocmulgee State Park near McRae in the 1990’s.
She is survived by two children Billy Ware Walker Jr. and Laura Lei Walker Knight (Robbie) of McRae; grandchildren Brannon Walker Knight (Katie) of Eastman and Brice Knight Nelms (Dylan) of Hazlehurst; great-grandchildren Robert Pierce Knight and Norah Lei Knight of Eastman, Rise Lei Nelms, Reid Laura Nelms, Raen Lottie Nelms and Knight Carver Nelms of Hazlehurst; sister Mary Ann Collins (Norman) of Roswell; and brother Ashley Hawkins (Kris) of Forsyth; and many nieces and nephews.
Jane Walker was a resident of Southern Charm Assisted Living in McRae where she leaves behind friends who became family.
Services were held Oct. 25 at McRae Methodist Church with burial at Bethlehem (Sandhill) Methodist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates contributions to Cornerstone Christian Academy Building Fund, 5107 Oak St., Eastman, GA 31023, or to Appling Christian Academy, 1479 Hatch Parkway S., Baxley, GA 31513. Memorial contribution link is available and online condolences may be expressed at vaughnfh.com.
Vaughn Funeral Home of McRae was in charge.
