MARY ELIZABETH WALKER was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to the late John E. and Ethel L. Williams. As their youngest and only daughter, she was the apple of their eyes.

Mary gave her life to Christ and was baptized at an early age. She attended school in Harrisburg and graduated from John Harris High School before leaving home to attend the “Nation’s First Degree-Granting HBCU”, Lincoln University. While at Lincoln, in 1976, Mary was initiated as a member of the Zeta Omega Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she continued her family’s legacy of community service. While at Lincoln, Mary traveled to Paris, France to study French. She was honored by her fellow students at Lincoln in 1978, when she was named to its Royal Court as “Miss. Lincoln”, where she served as the official student host and ambassador for the university. Mary was a proud graduate of Lincoln University in the Class of 1979 with a degree in English.

Mary was a dedicated leader in Early Childhood Education. She was the Supervisor of Family Education Centers at the Community Action Commission and the Director of the Early Childhood program at the East Shore YMCA. She was also a teacher at the Jewish Community Center. Mary created and facilitated the implementation of a program called “Safety Trained Assistance for Residential Support” know as STARS. This program allowed members of the community to engage in training to help ensure the safety of their families, especially their children. Topics that Mary included in this innovative program were, Red Cross certified First Aid training and home safety practices that included but were not limited to poison control and fire safety.

Mary was a dedicated and active member of Tabernacle and as her parents before her, she attended Sunday School and at times assisted as a Sunday School teacher. Mary dedicated her musical talents to Tabernacle and other local churches when she served as a member of the choir, pianist and Minister of Music.

Mary exemplified her artistic talents when she started a hobby creating jewelry. She subsequently sold many of her pieces at several church bazaars and craft shows. She thoroughly enjoyed creating special pieces for her husband David and always loved that he wore those pieces proudly. Mary also spent some of her quality time with Lailyn making jewelry “masterpieces” during each visit.

In 2015, Mary was united in marriage to David S. Walker. Their marriage was full of love and fun, as they relished spending time in Maryland with her son Lawrence M. Hamm, Jr., granddaughter, Lailyn M. Hamm, and dear friend and Soror Marie Roberts-Milligan. Mary and David also could be found relaxing at various beaches and attending jazz shows at Blues Alley in DC and the Capital Area Jazz Festival in Columbia, Maryland to name a few. Their home was known as a “safe haven” and the place for family and friends to relax and enjoy the many meals that Mary prepared with love.

Mary leaves to celebrate her life, her devoted husband, David S. Walker; her loving son, Lawrence M. Hamm, Jr.; her brothers, John Williams Jr. and Robert Williams, Sr.; her granddaughter, Lailyn M. Hamm; her aunt, Imogene Key; her nine nieces and nephews, Andrea, Steven, Joshua, Renea, Vanessa, Zack, Robert II, Akia and Devon and a host of extended family and friends.

Her life will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023 in the Sanctuary of her church, 2730 Booser Avenue, Harrisburg with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Omega Omega Service at 10:00 a.m. and visitation 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.