Tressie Walker's Obituary
TRESSIE LEE WALKER (PAYNE) WAS BORN APRIL 14, 1939, IN WALDO, ARKANSAS TO THE LATE AGGIE B. AND OLIVIE PAYNE. SHE WAS ONE OF SIX CHILDREN BLESSED TO THIS LOVING UNION AND FROM AN EARLY AGE CARRIED A SPIRIT FULL OF LIFE, LAUGHTER, AND LOVE.
TRESSIE MARRIED ISREAL WALKER AND LEFT HER SMALL COUNTRY HOMETOWN TO BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER IN THE BIG CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. AFTER MORE THAN 30 YRS DEVOTED TO HER FAMILY AS A HOUSEWIFE, SHE TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH AND STEPPED INTO THE WORKFORCE, WHERE SHE BUILT A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A CASHIER WITH WINPARK IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. SHE WORKED THERE FAITHFULLY FOR OVER 20 YEARS. BEFORE ENJOYING A WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT.
TO KNOW TRESSIE WAS TO LOVE HER. SHE LOVED DANCING, SINGING, PLAYING DOMINOES AND CARDS, AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH HER JOYFUL SPIRIT. SHE WAS TRULY A MOM TO ANYONE IN HER PRESENCE OFFERING ADVICE, ENCOURAGEMENT, A HOT MEAL, OR SIMPLY A LISTENING EAR. HER HOME WAS FILLED WITH LOVE, LAUGHTER, AND THE AROMA OF HER FAMOUS GUMBO AND DELICIOUS DUCK DRESSING (AND I DO MEAN DELICIOUS!!).
TRESSIE’S GREATEST PRIDE WAS HER CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. SHE WAS ALWAYS FRONT AND CENTER AT SCHOOL EVENTS AND MILESTONES. CHEERING THE LOUDEST AND LOVING THE HARDEST. HER FAITH IN GOD WAS THE FOUNDATION OF HER LIFE, AND SHE HELD STEADFAST TO HIS WORD THROUGHOUT EVERY SEASON.
FROM HER UNION WITH ISREAL WALKER (DECEASED), SHE WAS BLESSED WITH FOUR CHILDREN: ISREAL “LEE”, TERESSIA “NITA”, CARL, AND JOSEPH “JOE”.
SHE IS PROCEEDED IN DEATH BY HER PARENTS AND BROTHERS, B. J PAYNE AND D. A. PAYNE. SHE LEAVES BEHIND HER SISTER BETTY MARTIN (PAYNE), BROTHERS CHESTER PAYNE, AND MARZELL PAYNE. HER CHILDREN - ISREAL” LEE” WALKER (TRENTIA), TERESSIA “NITA” WEBB (WALKER), CARL L. WALKER (ROSE) AND JOSEPH “JOE” WALKER (TAMMY).
11 GRANDCHILDREN -DARYN, TRES’, DAVID, ZARIUS, NYLES, JYAH, CARLIE, JORDAN, LORENZO, CHRISTINE AND TAJAH. 4 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN - LEZELL, DONVAN, JEREMIAH TYTUS, AND KAYSON. ALONG WITH A HOST OF NIECES, NEPHEWS, COUSINS AND FRIENDS WHO WERE ALL TOUCHED BY HER KINDNESS AND LOVE. TRESSIE’S LAUGHTER, STRENGTH, AND GENTLE HEART WILL LIVE ON IN ALL WHO WERE BLESSED TO KNOW HER. SHE LOVED DEEPLY, LIVED FULLY, AND LEAVES BEHIND A LEGACY OF FAITH, FAMILY, AND JOY.
What’s your fondest memory of Tressie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Tressie?
Share a story where Tressie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Tressie you’ll never forget.
How did Tressie make you smile?

