Charlie Wright Walker was born in Cordele, Ga. (Bartow Co.) on July 27, 1859. He was married to Mary Jane Griffin, the daughter of Edward T. Griffin and Mary Margaret Mizell on January 20, 1884. Mary Jane was born in Pierce County (now Brantley) on February 15, 1865 . Charlie died on March 2, 1941 and Jane died January 16, 1923. They are buried at Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery in Brantley County. To this marriage were born twelve children:
(1) Charles Oscar, born November 8, 1884 and died January 22, 1960 He was buried at Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
(2) Ward Owen, born July 7, 1886, and married Lovie Woodard; children: A.Z. (born 8 Mar 1917, and on 17 Sep 1933 married Leon Griffin, son of Burnis Agafa Griffin and Myrtie Satilla Altman. Leon died on 9 June 1963 and Mrs. A.Z. on 6 May 2004). Marcus Earl (Buck), Helen, Margaret, Jeanette, Janie Lee, and Lacy Lamar. There was an influenza epidemic and their infant child died February 17, 1926 ; Lovie died February 18, 1926 , and Ward died February 19, 1926 . They are buried at the Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
(3) Berta Ashton, born August 19, 1888 and was married to Owen C. Strickland; one child, Owen C. (O.C.) died June 3, 1907 . Berta then married Wiley Carter; children: Jane, Mary, Florence, Geraldine, Mathleen, Julia Bell (Johnnie), and Ella Vaughn. Berta and O.C. are buried at Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
(4) Mary Corrine, born February 14, 1890 and was married to Arthur S. Carter; children: Lucille and Earl. Corrine died November 24, 1969; and Arthur in cir 1977. Corrine and Arthur are buried at Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
(5) Wesley Edward, born October 12, 1892 and married Tish Lott; one child: Nadine. Tish died at an early age; Wesley then married Estelle Gillis; one child, Anna Jane. Wesley is buried in Broxton, Ga.
(6) Ellie Maybell, born December 20, 1894 and died July 14, 1896 . Ellie is buried at Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
(7) Mamie Isabelle, born December 26, 1896 , and married William McCullen; children: William (Bill), Hazel and Parmalee.
(8) Dewey Bryan, born July 28, 1898, and married Effie Mae Dowling, born February 2, 1899, the daughter of Martin Edgar Dowling and Nancy L. Dryden. Effie died March 20, 20, 1977, and is buried at High Bluff; children: Doris, Genouise, and Merle. He married Lola Mozelle Lane Melton, born August 22, 1910, the daughter of Thomas Martin Lane and Lovie Sophronie Edwards ; one child: Travis. Dewey died March 20, 1976 and is buried at Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
(9)Lila Virginia, born October 22, 1901, and married Irvin James Crews on November 15, 1925; children: James Irvin, Virginia Lila, Kathryn Ellen, Betty Lou, Billie Sue, Laura Margaret, and Ward Eugene. Irvin died March 12, 1966, and Lila died November 5, 1991. They are buried at Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
(10) Lessie Margaret, born August 6, 1904 and married Jack Rowland; children: Jack, Edward, Bob, and Christine. Lessie is buried at Greenpond Cemetery in Polk City, Fl.
(11) Nettie Ophelia, born November 20, 1906 and married Homer Eugene Crews; children: Marion Eugene, Jane Ophelia, Myran Deloris, Lary Lou, Julian Wright, Charles Wesley, Vivian Laverne, Norma, Jerry Dean and Ema Jacquline. Nettie died August 21, 1991. Nettie and Homer are buried at Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
(12) Sue Ellen, born December 14, 1908 , and married Julius S. (Jerry) Horvath; one child: Linda. Ellen died February 14, 1994 . Ellen and Jerry are buried at Pierce Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery.
Charlie and Jane were farmers. They grew cotton and tobacco. They were devout Christians and active members of the Pierce Chapel Methodist Church. In their home they had a family altar twice daily. Their farm was located in the area of Schlatterville, a couple of miles west of High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church, and not very far from the Laura S. Walker State Park. Besides the farming, Charlie was employed by a saw mill in Braganza , Ga.
(Submitted by Margaret Crews Thomas, Route 1, Box 7 , Nahunta , Ga. , 31553 . Note: Underlined portions were added by Historical Society.)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND PUBLISHED IN THE BLACKSHEAR TIMES
LETTER #1 TO THE EDITOR, Blackshear Times (August 6, 1914). Dear Sir: I wish to say through the columns of your paper that I have been trying to lead a Christian life for some twenty odd years. I have been working in church and Sunday School, and in the main time I have had my little three and five inch temperance guns firing on whiskey, and its use, only as a medicine and prescribed by a Doctor. I am sorry to say, but never the less it is true. I have become very unpopular with some of the citizens and lawbreakers of Pierce County, but I thank God for a principle that stands for right, rather than popularity. There is a great evil going on in this section. It is demoralizing good citizens, and ruining the boys. In as much, as I see it in this light, I am going to turn my twelve inch gun on those that public opinion point out, as the ones who is making and selling whiskey. Boys, you better take warning, if this thing don't stop I'm going to do my best to get some of Uncle Sam's forces to help me uncover, and expose this evil, and bring the guilty party to justice. Respectfully, Your humble citizen. C. W. Walker.
LETTER #2 TO THE EDITOR, Blackshear Times (August 20, 1914). Dear Sir: I wish to say a few things in the columns of your valuable paper. For this reason I can express myself, to people otherwise I would not get to speak to. I am still on the temperance war-path, and I ask the citizens of Pierce County, for volunteers to help me to up-root this moonshine and whiskey traffic that is degrading our young man hood in this section. Mr. Citizen, I don't ask you to get out, and hunt those places of operation. I will take that burden on myself. But I do ask you to condemn it by your own fireside and when you have an occasion to speak of it, condemn it. It does seem to me like too many citizens endorse it by keeping silent. If these conditions don't change what will we do when the present leaders pass off of the stage of action. Will you not catch the point, right here, and consider it seriously? I feel sure that I have the mothers and sisters on my side, but some of them dare not say a word. We have a few men that serve as Jurors that public opinion, pointed out as makers and dealing in moonshine whiskey. Yet, they should be law abiding and up-right, but they are criminals to try, and meet our justice to others. Oh, Devine! Send a great currant of revolution and change these conditions.There is a few church members, even Gods very elect that speaks in favor of whiskey. Now Mr. Church member, if you would make your calling and election, sure you must first get rid of this idea. With best wishes to the Time's and its readers. Respectfully your humble citizen. C.W. Walker.
LETTER #3 TO THE EDITOR, Blackshear Times (September 3, 1914). Dear Sir: I'm coming again through the columns of your valuable paper. In my last article I made a call for volunteers. I want to compliment Mr. J. A. DeLoach for falling in line and I hope others will follow. I will hold up on the whiskey question just now, but keep looking for evidence against the cursed stuff. It does seem to me that men would get sick and tired of sin and lawliness and refrain from it and see how sweet it is to live above the law and in favor with God. Rev. W. L. Huggins and Rev. W.A. Brooks have just closed a ten day meeting at Pierce Chapel. It was a God sent blessing to this section. These two brethren preached the gospel with power from on high. The fire fell from heaven and I never saw such burning out of sin, the church revived and nine new members were added to the church. We thank thee O'Lord for the success of this meeting, but it makes our hearts sad when we look around and see so many going astray and the kingdom of heaven so near at hand. It does seem to me that we are in the midst of the heavenly feast. Bless the Lord, O my soul, Bless his Holy Name, The Primitive brethren and friends of High Bluff Church have put a new top on the church and are making preparations for a big meeting the 12th and 13th of September, and also the Association on the 10th, 11th, and 12th of October. So you see we are almost in paradise. If the people will attend these meetings with the purpose of heart to serve the Lord, but they all won't do it. So I want to put the readers of this on notice and those that don't behave at those meetings that there will be a watchman there and will see that they pay the price for disrespect for places of Divine Worship. Respectfully, your humble citizen, C.W. Walker.