Obituary:
Decatur-Roger E. Walker Jr., a great man of honor, who received many earthly accolades throughout the sixty-three years of his life. Roger's upward promotions continued as the Lord saw fit to take him higher. On Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 12:25 p.m. at Kindred Hospital, Springfield, he received the greatest promotion of them all, his heavenly promotion.
Roger was born on February 7, 1949 in Brownsville, Tennessee the son of Roger E. Walker Sr. and Ida (Currie) Walker Lake. He married Vergie Eubanks on August 28, 1971. She preceded him in death on October 12, 2004.
He was educated in the Decatur Public Schools and was a graduate of Richland Community College. He served our country and was a veteran of the United States Navy.
Roger began his distinguished law enforcement career in the Decatur area with the Macon County Sheriff's Department in 1972 as a patrol officer. He was promoted upward through the ranks to patrol sergeant, detective and lieutenant. In 1998, he was elected as the Sheriff of Macon County, being the first African American Sheriff in the State of Illinois. He sought re-election in 2002 and ran unopposed. Roger still on an upward rise was appointed as the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections on May 1, 2003 by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.
Roger was a God fearing man and was a member of the Main Street Church of the Living God under the leadership of his brother, Overseer Thomas E. Walker. He was also a part of the music ministry where he played the saxophone.
Roger was committed to a multitude of community and professional organizations. He had served in the following capacities: Vice-President, NOBLE - Land of Lincoln Chapter (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives); NABCJ-Greater Illinois Area Chapter; Illinois Sheriff's Association; National Sheriff's Association; Executive Board, Youth With A Positive Direction; N.A.A.C.P.; Unit #99/FOP Lodge #144; African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society of Illinois Inc.; Vice-President of Decatur Chapter Frontiers International; State of Illinois Child Advocacy Board; Illinois State Advisory Board/Fight Crime: Invest In Kids; and Illinois Training and Standards Board.
Roger loved his family, his staff and the entire community. Many lives has he touched and many lives has he inspired both near and far.
He leaves to continue his legacy and cherish his loving memories: his mother, Ida Walker Lake of Decatur; daughters, Robin Ketchens of Augusta, GA and Tammie (Rick) Shaw of Decatur; brothers: Overseer Thomas E. (Margaret) Walker and Arthur Lee (Terri) Walker both of Decatur and Timothy Lake of Phoenix, AZ; sister, Hilda Walker of Decatur; grandchildren: Courtney N. Lee of Decatur and Daa'iyah Ketchens and Marion Ketchens, Jr. both of Augusta, GA; uncle, Horace(Dimple) Walker; aunts, Mary Ann Boyd, Doris Lawrence, Jean (A.D.) Brooks and Beulah Currie; special sister, Diane Bond of Decatur; special brothers, Larry Bond and William Martin, Jr., special aunt, Mildred Taylor, fiancée, Debra Watson of Denver, CO and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, Sheriff Tom Schneider and the Macon County Sheriff Dept. family, Illinois Dept. of Corrections, the entire Decatur community.
He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents and a host of aunts and uncles and cousins.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Kris Patel, Becky Parini and to everyone who supported and cared for Roger throughout his career and illness.
Decatur-Roger E. Walker Jr., a great man of honor, who received many earthly accolades throughout the sixty-three years of his life. Roger's upward promotions continued as the Lord saw fit to take him higher. On Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 12:25 p.m. at Kindred Hospital, Springfield, he received the greatest promotion of them all, his heavenly promotion.
Roger was born on February 7, 1949 in Brownsville, Tennessee the son of Roger E. Walker Sr. and Ida (Currie) Walker Lake. He married Vergie Eubanks on August 28, 1971. She preceded him in death on October 12, 2004.
He was educated in the Decatur Public Schools and was a graduate of Richland Community College. He served our country and was a veteran of the United States Navy.
Roger began his distinguished law enforcement career in the Decatur area with the Macon County Sheriff's Department in 1972 as a patrol officer. He was promoted upward through the ranks to patrol sergeant, detective and lieutenant. In 1998, he was elected as the Sheriff of Macon County, being the first African American Sheriff in the State of Illinois. He sought re-election in 2002 and ran unopposed. Roger still on an upward rise was appointed as the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections on May 1, 2003 by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.
Roger was a God fearing man and was a member of the Main Street Church of the Living God under the leadership of his brother, Overseer Thomas E. Walker. He was also a part of the music ministry where he played the saxophone.
Roger was committed to a multitude of community and professional organizations. He had served in the following capacities: Vice-President, NOBLE - Land of Lincoln Chapter (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives); NABCJ-Greater Illinois Area Chapter; Illinois Sheriff's Association; National Sheriff's Association; Executive Board, Youth With A Positive Direction; N.A.A.C.P.; Unit #99/FOP Lodge #144; African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society of Illinois Inc.; Vice-President of Decatur Chapter Frontiers International; State of Illinois Child Advocacy Board; Illinois State Advisory Board/Fight Crime: Invest In Kids; and Illinois Training and Standards Board.
Roger loved his family, his staff and the entire community. Many lives has he touched and many lives has he inspired both near and far.
He leaves to continue his legacy and cherish his loving memories: his mother, Ida Walker Lake of Decatur; daughters, Robin Ketchens of Augusta, GA and Tammie (Rick) Shaw of Decatur; brothers: Overseer Thomas E. (Margaret) Walker and Arthur Lee (Terri) Walker both of Decatur and Timothy Lake of Phoenix, AZ; sister, Hilda Walker of Decatur; grandchildren: Courtney N. Lee of Decatur and Daa'iyah Ketchens and Marion Ketchens, Jr. both of Augusta, GA; uncle, Horace(Dimple) Walker; aunts, Mary Ann Boyd, Doris Lawrence, Jean (A.D.) Brooks and Beulah Currie; special sister, Diane Bond of Decatur; special brothers, Larry Bond and William Martin, Jr., special aunt, Mildred Taylor, fiancée, Debra Watson of Denver, CO and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, Sheriff Tom Schneider and the Macon County Sheriff Dept. family, Illinois Dept. of Corrections, the entire Decatur community.
He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents and a host of aunts and uncles and cousins.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Kris Patel, Becky Parini and to everyone who supported and cared for Roger throughout his career and illness.
Obituary:
Decatur-Roger E. Walker Jr., a great man of honor, who received many earthly accolades throughout the sixty-three years of his life. Roger's upward promotions continued as the Lord saw fit to take him higher. On Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 12:25 p.m. at Kindred Hospital, Springfield, he received the greatest promotion of them all, his heavenly promotion.
Roger was born on February 7, 1949 in Brownsville, Tennessee the son of Roger E. Walker Sr. and Ida (Currie) Walker Lake. He married Vergie Eubanks on August 28, 1971. She preceded him in death on October 12, 2004.
He was educated in the Decatur Public Schools and was a graduate of Richland Community College. He served our country and was a veteran of the United States Navy.
Roger began his distinguished law enforcement career in the Decatur area with the Macon County Sheriff's Department in 1972 as a patrol officer. He was promoted upward through the ranks to patrol sergeant, detective and lieutenant. In 1998, he was elected as the Sheriff of Macon County, being the first African American Sheriff in the State of Illinois. He sought re-election in 2002 and ran unopposed. Roger still on an upward rise was appointed as the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections on May 1, 2003 by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.
Roger was a God fearing man and was a member of the Main Street Church of the Living God under the leadership of his brother, Overseer Thomas E. Walker. He was also a part of the music ministry where he played the saxophone.
Roger was committed to a multitude of community and professional organizations. He had served in the following capacities: Vice-President, NOBLE - Land of Lincoln Chapter (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives); NABCJ-Greater Illinois Area Chapter; Illinois Sheriff's Association; National Sheriff's Association; Executive Board, Youth With A Positive Direction; N.A.A.C.P.; Unit #99/FOP Lodge #144; African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society of Illinois Inc.; Vice-President of Decatur Chapter Frontiers International; State of Illinois Child Advocacy Board; Illinois State Advisory Board/Fight Crime: Invest In Kids; and Illinois Training and Standards Board.
Roger loved his family, his staff and the entire community. Many lives has he touched and many lives has he inspired both near and far.
He leaves to continue his legacy and cherish his loving memories: his mother, Ida Walker Lake of Decatur; daughters, Robin Ketchens of Augusta, GA and Tammie (Rick) Shaw of Decatur; brothers: Overseer Thomas E. (Margaret) Walker and Arthur Lee (Terri) Walker both of Decatur and Timothy Lake of Phoenix, AZ; sister, Hilda Walker of Decatur; grandchildren: Courtney N. Lee of Decatur and Daa'iyah Ketchens and Marion Ketchens, Jr. both of Augusta, GA; uncle, Horace(Dimple) Walker; aunts, Mary Ann Boyd, Doris Lawrence, Jean (A.D.) Brooks and Beulah Currie; special sister, Diane Bond of Decatur; special brothers, Larry Bond and William Martin, Jr., special aunt, Mildred Taylor, fiancée, Debra Watson of Denver, CO and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, Sheriff Tom Schneider and the Macon County Sheriff Dept. family, Illinois Dept. of Corrections, the entire Decatur community.
He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents and a host of aunts and uncles and cousins.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Kris Patel, Becky Parini and to everyone who supported and cared for Roger throughout his career and illness.
Decatur-Roger E. Walker Jr., a great man of honor, who received many earthly accolades throughout the sixty-three years of his life. Roger's upward promotions continued as the Lord saw fit to take him higher. On Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 12:25 p.m. at Kindred Hospital, Springfield, he received the greatest promotion of them all, his heavenly promotion.
Roger was born on February 7, 1949 in Brownsville, Tennessee the son of Roger E. Walker Sr. and Ida (Currie) Walker Lake. He married Vergie Eubanks on August 28, 1971. She preceded him in death on October 12, 2004.
He was educated in the Decatur Public Schools and was a graduate of Richland Community College. He served our country and was a veteran of the United States Navy.
Roger began his distinguished law enforcement career in the Decatur area with the Macon County Sheriff's Department in 1972 as a patrol officer. He was promoted upward through the ranks to patrol sergeant, detective and lieutenant. In 1998, he was elected as the Sheriff of Macon County, being the first African American Sheriff in the State of Illinois. He sought re-election in 2002 and ran unopposed. Roger still on an upward rise was appointed as the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections on May 1, 2003 by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich.
Roger was a God fearing man and was a member of the Main Street Church of the Living God under the leadership of his brother, Overseer Thomas E. Walker. He was also a part of the music ministry where he played the saxophone.
Roger was committed to a multitude of community and professional organizations. He had served in the following capacities: Vice-President, NOBLE - Land of Lincoln Chapter (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives); NABCJ-Greater Illinois Area Chapter; Illinois Sheriff's Association; National Sheriff's Association; Executive Board, Youth With A Positive Direction; N.A.A.C.P.; Unit #99/FOP Lodge #144; African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society of Illinois Inc.; Vice-President of Decatur Chapter Frontiers International; State of Illinois Child Advocacy Board; Illinois State Advisory Board/Fight Crime: Invest In Kids; and Illinois Training and Standards Board.
Roger loved his family, his staff and the entire community. Many lives has he touched and many lives has he inspired both near and far.
He leaves to continue his legacy and cherish his loving memories: his mother, Ida Walker Lake of Decatur; daughters, Robin Ketchens of Augusta, GA and Tammie (Rick) Shaw of Decatur; brothers: Overseer Thomas E. (Margaret) Walker and Arthur Lee (Terri) Walker both of Decatur and Timothy Lake of Phoenix, AZ; sister, Hilda Walker of Decatur; grandchildren: Courtney N. Lee of Decatur and Daa'iyah Ketchens and Marion Ketchens, Jr. both of Augusta, GA; uncle, Horace(Dimple) Walker; aunts, Mary Ann Boyd, Doris Lawrence, Jean (A.D.) Brooks and Beulah Currie; special sister, Diane Bond of Decatur; special brothers, Larry Bond and William Martin, Jr., special aunt, Mildred Taylor, fiancée, Debra Watson of Denver, CO and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, Sheriff Tom Schneider and the Macon County Sheriff Dept. family, Illinois Dept. of Corrections, the entire Decatur community.
He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents and a host of aunts and uncles and cousins.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Kris Patel, Becky Parini and to everyone who supported and cared for Roger throughout his career and illness.
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