Walker Charles Mabry

Walker Charles Mabry September 19, 1926 – December 20, 2017 Walker Charles Mabry, 91, of Wilson passed away Wednesday. His funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, 311 W Nash Street, Wilson. Interment will follow with Masonic Rites in Evergreen Memorial Park, Wilson. The Rev. Steve Clayton will officiate. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 7 – 9 p.m. at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson and other times at the home. Walker served his country with honor and pride with the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. In 1950, he married the love of his life, Betty Blackwell and they have shared the joy of having two daughters, three grandsons, and two great-grandchildren. Walker worked with Swift and Company for forty-seven years. He joined First Baptist Church in 1959 where he served on numerous committees. He was presented the Life Membership of the Wilson Optimist Club, where he was a member for fifty-two years and he served as distinguished officer at local and state level. For fifty-two years he sold Christmas trees to generations of Wilson residents and he became known as the “Christmas Tree Man”. Out of all the activities he had part of, coaching was his favorite. He coached many little league teams influencing many young men and women. Walker has been called Barton College Baseball’s #1 fan; he traveled with the team and rarely missed a game or even a practice where he departed his “wisdom” freely to the players. Walker has received the Willis Hackney Award from the Hot Stove League and the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Foundation of International. Walker is survived by his daughters, Charla M. Sidelinger and husband, Steven Lee of Wilson, and Sherry M. Quinn and husband, Bronnie Lee of Goldsboro; his grandsons, Travis Lee Quinn of Carolina Beach, Michael Bret Quinn and wife, Amy of La Grange, and Richard Lee Sidelinger and girlfriend, Elizabeth Wells of Wilson; great-grandson, Ethan Gray Quinn of La Grange, and his great-granddaughter, Leah Grace Quinn of La Grange. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carlene Blackwell Mabry; his parents, five brothers, and four sisters. Flowers are welcomed or memorials may be directed in Walker’s name to the First Baptist Church, PO Box 1467, Wilson, North Carolina 27894 or the Barton College Baseball Scholarship, Walker Charles Mabry, PO Box 5000, Wilson, North Carolina 27893. Condolences may be directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home at www.joyners.net.