One by one, they came — not just to see Vicksburg’s first Black mayor for the last time, but to tell his family how much he meant to them.Robert Walker, who served multiple terms as Vicksburg’s mayor, was remembered Friday night during a public viewing at the Vicksburg Auditorium.“Frankly, I didn’t know he touched so many lives with all the many things he’s done,” said Michael Walker, Robert’s younger brother.Michael Walker said he didn’t fully grasp his brother’s reach until seeing the outpouring of love from the community.“These are challenging times because everything was so sudden, but we’re just extremely pleased with the outpouring of love and support,” he said.Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace called Walker a “progressive mayor with a big heart” who was “respected all over the state and this part of the country.”In addition to serving as mayor, Walker worked as chief administrative officer for the late Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, taught at Tougaloo College and Jackson State University, was a church leader, historian, and proud Alpha Phi Alpha member, and his family says he also started the Head Start program in Vicksburg.“He was always helpful in ways other than being a mayor,” a family member said.For Michael Walker, the most personal memories are of weekly family calls his brother started, just to check in and talk about God. Normally, he does all the talking, but he was quiet,” he said.The family says they will continue those calls in his honor.Walker’s funeral is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Vicksburg Convention Center on Dr. Briggs Hopson Boulevard.
One by one, they came — not just to see Vicksburg’s first Black mayor for the last time, but to tell his family how much he meant to them.
Robert Walker, who served multiple terms as Vicksburg’s mayor, was remembered Friday night during a public viewing at the Vicksburg Auditorium.
“Frankly, I didn’t know he touched so many lives with all the many things he’s done,” said Michael Walker, Robert’s younger brother.
Michael Walker said he didn’t fully grasp his brother’s reach until seeing the outpouring of love from the community.
“These are challenging times because everything was so sudden, but we’re just extremely pleased with the outpouring of love and support,” he said.
Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace called Walker a “progressive mayor with a big heart” who was “respected all over the state and this part of the country.”
In addition to serving as mayor, Walker worked as chief administrative officer for the late Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, taught at Tougaloo College and Jackson State University, was a church leader, historian, and proud Alpha Phi Alpha member, and his family says he also started the Head Start program in Vicksburg.
“He was always helpful in ways other than being a mayor,” a family member said.
For Michael Walker, the most personal memories are of weekly family calls his brother started, just to check in and talk about God. Normally, he does all the talking, but he was quiet,” he said.
The family says they will continue those calls in his honor.
Walker’s funeral is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Vicksburg Convention Center on Dr. Briggs Hopson Boulevard.
