JOAN (PURNELL) WALKER

Feb. 9, 1934 - May 10, 2011
SOUTH BEND - Ms. Joan (Purnell) Walker, 77, of Sacramento, California, departed this life at 8:40 p.m. on May 10, 2011, in the Emerald Garden Nursing Facility. Joan was born February 9, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, to Jack and Judith (Shoemake) Purnell. They moved to South Bend, Indiana.

She went to Washington High School and Joan graduated from Central High School. In South Bend, Indiana,

Joan was united in marriage to Herman T. Walker Sr. She is survived by three sisters, Jacqueline (Purnell) Barr of South Bend, Indiana, Betty (Purnell) Pope of Mishawaka, Indiana, and Sandra (Purnell) Gandy of South Bend, Indiana. Joan had 13 children, DeWayne Purnell, Douglas Purnell, Reginald (Purnell) Howell Sr. (deceased), Valissa (Richard) Williams III, Herman (Sam) Walker Jr., all of South Bend, Indiana, Wallace D. (Tina) Walker of Sacramento, California, Nathaniel Walker, Raymond Walker (deceased) of South Bend, Indiana, JoAnn Marie Ford of Sacramento, California, Vanessa Ann Walker of Fort Worth, Texas, Annie Walker, Jackie LaMar Harvey Sr., and Walker baby boy who died at birth, all of South Bend, IN. J

oan moved to California in 1987, she attended Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, California. She graduated on May 31, 1996; her degree was in Fashion Design and Apparel Production, and this was a great accomplishment.

Preceding her in death were her great-grandmother, Mary Nichleberry; great-grandfather, Sam Nickleberry; grandmother, Pocahontas (Nickelberry) Shoemake; grandfather, Ross Shoemake; mother, Judith (Shoemake) Purnell; father, Jack Purnell Sr.; one uncle, Percy (Shoemake) Williams; Jack Purnell Jr. (deceased); Jane Purnell (deceased); Janet (Purnell) Thompson, Judy (Purnell) Kelly; and a brother-in-law, Harvey Barr. Joan is survived by 26 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Services for Ms. Joan Walker will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Alford's Mortuary, 1222 Napier Street. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., then services at 11 a.m. Burial at Southlawn Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alford's Mortuary where messages of condolence may be e-mailed to alfordsmortuary@comcast.net, c/o the Purnell Walker family.

Published by South Bend Tribune on May 19, 2011.

02/21/2023 EJS