Stanley Walker, Jr. Obituary

Stanley D Walker, Jr was born August 1, 1940, to parents Stanley D. Walker and Cornelia Brewster Walker in Anniston, Alabama. Stanley "Big Stan" was a role model and close friend of many leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, generosity, and family. Stan grew up in Anniston, Alabama with his twin sister, Ann Walker. He grew up fast when his mother, "Connie", passed away while he and Ann were young teens. Athletics was always a big part of Stan's life. He was a world-class athlete beginning in his early childhood days playing basketball, tennis and was a swimming champion while attending Anniston High School. He was also a member of the 1958 Alabama State Championship Tennis Team, as well as a talented golfer and skilled bowler. In 1958, after his senior year at Anniston High School, Stan was awarded one of the first swimming and diving scholarships from the University of Alabama. Roll Tide! The swimming and diving scholarship was a tremendous blessing and in addition, the University of Alabama swim coach awarded Stan a position as the Operations Manager of the Swimming and Diving facility at the university, managing it for four years. In 1962, Stan was Captain of the University of Alabama swimming and diving team. Also, as a senior, he represented the SEC in the NCAA national swimming and diving competition in Dallas, Texas. At the University of Alabama he received a Bachelor of Science degree specializing in industrial management. Stan was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and served as fraternity vice president his junior year. While at Alabama Stan also participated in ROTC. After graduating, Stan spent two years in active duty and finished his reserve duty as a Captain. He was stationed at Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma, Arizona, and airborne qualified from Ft Benning, Ga. Stan was also responsible for aerial delivery projects – including the first military tank dropped from a cargo plane. In 1964, Stan began his first civilian job working for Alcoa Aluminum Company as an Industrial Engineer in Davenport, Iowa. Over the next seven years Stan gained valuable experience in general management, leadership, acquisition, mergers, and personnel management possessing an incredibly strong work ethic. Stan met his wife, Kay Bailey Walker, in 1979 and six months after meeting, they were married and started their new life together in Alpharetta, GA. Stan began focusing his next career goals in the nursery business. Stan had tremendous faith in his Lord and Savior, he always led his business meetings with prayer. He had exceptional character and was always positive in his outlook. He kept a list of his favorite Bible verses with him at all times to share with his family and friends when needed. Stan had a gift of forming great relationships with clients and customers and was a mentor to many of his business partners. He had a strong entrepreneurial spirit and in 1987, Stan and Kay started McGinnis Farms, with his savings account, as a wholesale plant nursery distribution business based in Alpharetta, GA. In 1988, in the first year of business, McGinnis Farms won the Toro Silver Award for the entire United States, which recognized outstanding customer service. In 1989, McGinnis Farms HQ location in Alpharetta, Ga suffered severe damage by a tornado. Many of his customers sent checks to apply towards future purchases to help Stan cash flow the business payroll during the rebuilding stage. McGinnis Farms expanded in the southeastern and southwestern areas of the U.S, to include 60 stores in 12 states before being acquired in 2000 by John Deere Landscapes. Today the business continues and is a member of the New York Stock Exchange listed as SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. Following the sale of McGinnis Farms, Stan devoted his time to the growth of the Stanley D Walker Nursery Farm in Wellington, Alabama on land his father used to operate a dairy farm in 1950. Throughout his life, Stan continued to build on his strong faith, beginning with the influence from his mother, Cornelia (Connie) and then continuing through his marriage to Kay, as a central focus of their life together. He also loved playing golf at his favorite golf courses, quail hunting in South Georgia, spending time at SD Walker Nursery Farm in Wellington, Alabama, and playing with his labrador retrievers – McGinnis, Coco, Maggie, and Katie and Katie2. The SD Walker Nursery Farm was Stan's passion. Stan was devoted to creating a high-quality tree farm, and SD Walker Nursery Farm was a reflection of Stan and his father, Stanley Walker. The SD Walker Nursery Farm was always in extraordinary condition, and the quality of the tree inventory was exceptional. Stan and Kay found tremendous joy in spending time with their family. They had three sons and one daughter and were blessed with four grandchildren. His sons Denton Walker, Syd Walker, and Ron Morris and daughter Shelley Brewer loved him dearly and will miss him daily. Stan was extremely proud of his grandchildren: Annie and Babe Walker and Bailey and Tripp Morris. They all loved spending time with "Big Stan" and especially sharing BBQ ribs from Houston's, fried chicken from Betty's, Terah's famous spaghetti, cinnamon rolls from Bubba's, chocolate dessert from R&D Kitchen or his all-time favorite cheese queso dip from Mattito's in Dallas, Texas. Stan had the best sense of humor of all time. Also, Stan loved following Alabama football! In 2024, Stan and Kay were inducted into the Bryant Society recognizing their contributions as donors to the Crimson Tide Foundation. Stan was a member of the Golf Club of Georgia and loved playing golf there as well as traveling to his favorite places: Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, Wynfield Plantation in Albany, Ga, Blackberry Farm in Eastern Tennessee, Rosemary Beach in Florida, and Dallas, Texas to visit the Texas Walkers. Ministry was the central part of Stan and Kay's life. They were active members of Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church, Alpharetta, Ga. In 2000, they started the Kay and Stan Walker Foundation which supported evangelical ministry groups throughout the world. Their focus was recruiting new disciples to know and love Jesus Christ. Stan led a Discipleship Class for several years and was able to introduce several men to Christ helping them develop and strengthen their faith in the Lord. Stan is survived by his wife of over 46 years, Kay B. Walker, twin sister Ann Walker, daughter Shelley Walker Brewer (Dan), son S. Denton Walker, III (Cathy), son Sydney R. Walker, son Ronald D. Morris, Jr. (Terah) and grandchildren Annie Walker, Babe Walker, Bailey Morris and Tripp Morris. He is also survived by close family members, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lisa and William Hicks, Dr. Megan Hicks Harris and husband, Russell and nephew Merit Hicks and his wife, Nikki, and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews who loved him dearly. Dr. Harris lovingly and unselfishly took care of our 'Uncle Paw Paw' for the last year and a half. Managing his medicine, choosing the best doctors for his care, scheduling all of his therapies, et al. Special thank you to Tonia Brown, Stan's caregiver, during the last year. Also, a special thank you to the Georgia Hospice group, especially to Audrey and Jamie for their kindness and care to Stan and our family during his last days. In Lieu of Flowers please send donations to: The Swimming and Diving Gift Fund at The University of Alabama. https://rolltide.evenue.net/GIVE/SFSWIMWALKER We welcome you to provide your condolences, thoughts, and memories on our Tribute Wall. Mowell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Peachtree City, www.mowells.com