Barneta Walker

Barneta Ross Walker was a Christian woman, and a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother. Barneta was born on October 21, 1946, in Canton, Mississippi to the late Roosevelt Ross and Ora D. Ross (Tolliver). She was one of seven children. During her early childhood years, they lived in Ruleville, Mississippi and later moved to Mound Bayou, Mississippi.

In 1964, she graduated from John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in Mound Bayou, Mississippi and after graduating high school Barneta attended college at Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena, Mississippi. In 1992, she received her Early Childhood Education Certification from Governors State University.

In 1966 Barneta relocated to Chicago, Illinois, and met Charlie H. Walker. They married on December 31, 1968. They relocated to Joliet and the blended family consisted of 10 children. 

She worked 29 years at Head Start in the following capacities: Assistant Teacher, Teacher, and Center Director. She was a faithful Christian her entire life and was one of the seven members who started the East Side Church of Christ in Joliet in 2007.

Barneta departed this life on March 18, 2024. She is preceded in death by her father, Roosevelt Ross, mother, Ora D. Ross, stepmother, Doshie Ross, brothers, Charlie Ross, Willie Lee Ross, Clarence Ross, John Richard Ross, Jackson Ross, sister, Mattie Barney, son, James Walker, and granddaughter, Tiana Lopez.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Charlie H. Walker, children, Jeanette Speed, Veronica Walker, LaVerne Walker-Baxter, Donna Walker, Patricia Saulsberry, Balewa Walker, Harriet Walker, Boise Walker, and Jermaine Walker; siblings, Cathelean Brown, Betsy Satcher, Naomi Jones, Ruthie Reddics, James (Hester) Jones, and Frank Jones, brother-in-law, Robert Satcher, 21 grandchildren, host of great and great-great grandchildren, and host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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