SAN ANTONIO - Thousands of San Antonians are remembering one of this city's best known preachers and community leaders who was pastor of one of our biggest churches. The Reverend E. Thurman Walker died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.
“You give your life, blood and energy to your children. Nobody may not talk about you, but God knows your name,” preached Reverend Walker back in 1992.
I sat down and talked with him the year before he took over Antioch Baptist Church from another longtime east side leader, J.J. Rector.
“Most black churches - there's a lot of emotion, but one need not be fooled because within the emotion is a lot of theology, a lot of intellect and a lot of wisdom,” said Reverend Walker.
“He always wanted to leave things better than he found them,” explained Reverend Walker's wife Joangelia.
Joangelia says her husband helped grow Antioch and the whole east side community, building a sports complex and community center, a school and an association of churches.
But it wasn't to build a name. He loved being a pastor; a shepherd out in the community. Two years ago we found him working with young people and making sure they built relationships.
“So I think you have to have a combination of police in cars and walking the streets with the people building relationships,” said Rev. Walker.
“The fact that he was passionate about people and relationships that if we can learn anything from his life is that relationships are important,” said Joangelia.
His last project was a new school for boys in 6th through 8th grade. That'll open next fall. Named “Will Be” for the Walker Institute of Learning and Leadership for Boys of Excellence.
And that's how his family wants San Antonio to help honor him.
“For us as a family, flowers are beautiful, plants are beautiful -- but if you contribute to the vision and seed into that, then not only do you get the blessing and the boy's get the blessing, but the person will also get that blessing,” explains Joangelia.
Reverend E. Thurman Walker had just turned 50 last month. Funeral arrangements have not been set.
