Pastor Harold "Hank" Walker

PASTOR HAROLD "HANK"  WALKER, 66 of MONROE, NC, went from Glory to Reward on Friday, September 26, 2014,  at Hospice of Union County in Monroe, NC.  A Celebration of Life for Pastor Walker will be held 2pm Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at Marvin AME Zion Church, 1525 Crane Rd., Waxhaw, NC, with his body to lie in state 12 noon to 2pm prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. A public viewing will be held 11am to 7pm Tuesday, September 30, 2014, at Harris Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Monroe, NC. In lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions may be made to the Walker Family in Memory of Pastor Harold "Hank" Walker.

Born in Union County, NC, Monday, April 26, 1948,  he was the oldest son  of the late Mary Walker Mobley. He and his consequent five other siblings were moved to Fort Mill, SC, by his stepfather,  the late Mr. Hazel Mobley, where he spent his early childhood. The sudden death of his mother resulted in the six young children being raised by his  beloved maternal grandmother, the late Mrs. Ellie Walker, who relocated the children to their new home in Waxhaw, NC.

"Hank" as he was affectionally called by family and friends, continued his secondary school education at Western Union School and was part of the first group of African Americans to integrate  Parkwood High School in Monroe, NC.  There he excelled in sports and the gift of his deep melodic baritone voice was exposed.  As a teenager, he became an original member of the Happy Landers and Wondering Stars Gospel Quartet Groups and as a member of the Marvin AME Zion Church, under the watchful and guiding eye of "Mama Ellie." He received  the foundation that was to lead him into a life of ministry and service to the Kingdom of God.

Shortly  after graduating from high school, he married his childhood sweetheart Emily Hasty-Howard and the young couple embarked on an incredible spiritual journey.  Through a life of changing encounters in an old fashion tent meeting conducted by Bishop Harry Brown of Brunswick, GA, he discoverd a personal relationship with the Lord that became the positive and stabilizing foundation on which his entire life - complete obedience and love for God and unwavering service to his fellowman.

The following years would be evidence of the supernatural touch of God on his life as He took the life of this shy high school graduate and from his interest in electronics, transformed him from a knitting machine mechanic to a maintenance supervisor for one of the world's largest evangelistic organizations (Heritage Village Church & Missionary Fellowship, Inc. / The PTL Television Network).  At PTL, he continued to be trained as camera operator, went on to become senior camera man and finally transitioned to a versatile and accomplished staff director / producer, who at one time directed more "live" television than any other staff director.

Simultaneously other communicative skills and passions for ministry were developed under the tutelage of a retired pastor who lived at the J.A.A.R.S. center which is the Jungle and Aviation Radio Service and support wing of the Wycliffe Bible Translators in Waxhaw, NC.  This personal, intense, three-year, hands-on instruction was comparable to and as valuable to him as the finest Bible College experience.  Afterwards,  he and his wife began weekly Bible Study groups in Monroe, Waxhaw and Charlotte, NC; and  became members of the evangelistic team of the Inspirational Deliverance Center, Waxhaw, NC, and traveled throughout the southeastern states preaching and teaching the Word of God.  He also conducted tent meetings, community and street evangelistic outreaches, youth and annual revival services and was a speaker for Women Aglow and Full Gospel Businessmen's luncheons and meetings.

In 1976, he and a small band of believers pioneered an innovative, Full Gospel Fellowship - The New Town Road Community Church.  Dedicated to the vision of making disciples to christ and strengthening the resolve of commited Christians in the "End Times", he served as its Senior Pastor and Visionary for Thirty-One years.  The Church became a conduit for utilizing the arts in proclamation of the Gospel, using liturgical dance, dramatic presentations and prophetic music to make the Gospel " unavoidable and impacting".

He leaves to cherish warm memories, his wife of forty-six years, Emily of the home; two sons, Dana L. Walker of Charlotte, NC and Tyrone A. Walker of Edgewood, MD; a daughter and granddaughter; Kimberly C. Walker and Malai S. Walker of the home; one brother; Edward Arthur "Sid" Walker (Willette) of Charlotte, NC; three sisters; Hazel Jones (Clarence) of Oak Hill, VA, Mary A. Dae (James "Jim") of Stone Mountain, GA and Edna Ruth Hayden of Lancaster, SC; one brother-in-law,  Michael L. Howard of Matthews, NC; one sister-in-law, Carolyn B. Mobley of Waxhaw, NC; five other granddaughters; Tiffany Levant, Letitia Lee, Alicia Nicole Sutton, Brittany Mackey (Gerald) of Charlotte, NC and Diamond C. Walker of Monroe, NC; two grandsons; Devonte L. Babili of Indian Trail, NC  and Teyshaun A. Walker of Monroe, NC  eleven great-grandchildren,  and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends .

Hank's  life can be summed up in these sayings......

"There will be two dates on your tombstone.  And all will read them.  But all that matters is that little dash between them".  Kevin Welch

(Life matters! Live a life of love and service to others.  Do not waste the precious gift of today!)

"When God pushes you to the edge of difficulty, trust Him fully and either of two things will happen.  Either He will catch you when you fall, or He will teach you to fly" (Unknown)

(Make life an adventure. Experience and embrace every situation that comes your way as an occasion to witness the power and presence of Ever Present, All Powerful and Extraordinarily Loving God.)