I do miss his presence in my life. With great love and gratitude, Pam (Durham, NC)
This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, the one and only Walker Alexander Williams, 76, born on November 7, 1940 and passed away on April 7, 2017. We will remember him forever.
Tributes
Leave a tributeI do miss his presence in my life. With great love and gratitude, Pam (Durham, NC)
We were fortunate enough to meet Walker, and he became an invaluable member of our team, joining as President of our US company and joining the Board of Phytica Ghana.
Although we were a start up with no funding for salaries, Walker was fully committed to our cause. He made significant time for Phytica amidst his many other responsibilities, travelling to Ghana with us and connecting with our stakeholders.
From the outset, it was easy to see how Walker had been so successful in his other international endeavors. Walker’s calm, respectful style immediately put everyone at ease around a table. He quickly understood the business and political dynamics at play in our many interactions with key people. Whether we were meeting the Minister of Health in Ghana, or important funders of Phytica like Andrew Young, Walker’s warmth, natural sense of diplomacy and quiet confidence opened doors and drew others to him.
We were looking forward to many more years of working together, but that was not to be.
We will miss Walker’s leadership and international business skills. But much more than that, we will miss Walker as our colleague and friend.
Diane Winn, Founder, Phytica Inc.
Erich Eiselt, Board member, Phytica, Inc.
For you are like a seashell.
The tide recedes but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down, but gentle
warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops, and yet it echoes
on in sweet refrains.....
For every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains.
Amb. Joseph Huggins and Margot Sullivan
A slight up turn of the lips, a momentary relaxation of the tail
When Mila Luna met Walker the smile was expansive, long lasting
Her body calm, relaxed, happy
Met by an equally broad and deep smile, she understood Walker’s kindness, grace and love
Our world became darker when we lost these smiles.
to me. Peace and love to the family.
I cannot express how grateful I am to Walker for every encouragement, favor, phone call, lesson, gift, and laugh. Reading through comments, it is apparent that Walker touched the lives of many. Through his example, I hope to one day emulate Walker's graciousness, kindness, and selflessness. His dedication to international development, trade, and education (among many other areas of interest) was also commendable.
My thoughts are with Walker's family, friends, colleagues, and Shehnaz. Walker will be greatly missed.
As former Ambassador of the Republic of Malawi to the United States (2010 - 2015), I will remember Walker as a man of few words who strongly believed in action and in trade and investment and not just aid as an effective and sustainable means for ending poverty in Africa, and for helping the African continent transform into the next frontier for global economic growth.
This is exemplified, among other things, by his enormous and selfless contribution to the enactment and reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Walker's belief in the importance of AGOA to economic growth in eligible African countries distinguished him as a true friend of the African diplomatic corps.
On a personal note, my wife, Isabel and I will always remember Walker as a loving, compassionate and joyful friend. His humility was second to none. We have very fond memories of every encounter and conversation we had with him and we feel privileged to have known him. He will truly be missed by all those who knew him closely.
Deepest condolences to his family and to Shehnaz Rangwalla and the entire team at Leadership Global. May his soul rest in peace.
I send my condolences to his family and friends. Walker was one of the kindest and most knowledgeable people that I have ever met. He was always willing to listen and offer advice, and he made my time in D.C. memorable. He left an impression on everyone who came in contact with him.
He will truly be missed.
I was so sorry to hear the news about Walker. My internship at Leadership Africa USA remains a highlight of my post-secondary education, and I still find myself using skills I learned during that internship every day. Shehnaz and Walker were both amazing mentors and role models, and I know that Walker will be deeply missed. Please pass on my condolences to everyone at LA USA.
From what I see on social media, it seems that LA USA is still doing exceptional work. It always brightens my day when an update from LA USA shows up on my Facebook or Instagram feeds.
A great man. He will certainly be missed.
It is with great shock that we learn of the passing away of Mr. Walker Alexander Williams!
He was truly a friend of African and cherished engagement in global issues that affected us all.
On behalf of the staff of Uganda Embassy and my own behalf, I wish his family, relatives and friends our most sincere heartfelt condolences. May the Lord grant them strength and courage at this trying moment.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
As many of you know, it was the work of Walker and Shehnaz, as the Leadership Africa Team, in tandem with the African Dip Corps that resulted in the “Recommendations for the Re-Authorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act” by the AGOA Ambassadors Working Group. The Working Group was established in January 2013 and, if my memory serves me right, the Recommendations were published in May 2013.
The Recommendations were seen by many interested parties on the Hill -- and I believe on both sides of the aisle -- as a sign of robust support from the African Dip Corps. This critical confirmation from the Continent enabled those of us who staffed HFAC, SFRC, Ways and Means and SFC to seriously start the process of meeting, discussing, arguing and putting down ideas, regarding the reauthorization of AGOA. The Recommendations also enabled our Congressmembers to coalesce around various ideas aimed at making AGOA stronger and more effective.
Much thanks must go to our dear friends Walker and Shehnaz for their efforts in this regard, as well as to so many of you and your predecessors. Your strong support for the timely reauthorization of AGOA resulted in the signing of the bill into law approximately two years later.
We will always remember Walker for his proven interest in Africa and the Caribbean.
Sincere condolences to his family and his friends.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201704100888.html
Peace & Blessings!
It is with profound sorrow and sadness that I have learned the demise of our good friend, the one and only, Walker Williams. The elements of nature were so mixed in him that his presence always conveyed an aura of friendship full of sincerity and harmony. He was a friend to everybody and was the best of best. I came to know him shortly after my arrival in D.C in Jan.2011 while we were spearheading the advocacy for the urgent renewal of the Third Country Fabric Rule of AGOA. He has played a very significant role, together with his close associate Shehnaz in helping the African Diplomatic Corps in many fields, to raise the profile and stake of Africa with the U.S administration. I salute his support, cooperation, invaluable advice and mentoring. I must confess that he played a major role in bringing the African diplomats closer to the U.S lawmakers on the Hill. With time he became not only a personal friend of mine but also a family friend. He has been an honored and privileged guests several times at the official residence during my tenure. As a matter of fact the last dinner before I left Washington for Mauritius in July 2014, was together with him, Ms. Shehnaz Rangawalah and his brother Ken together with the members of my family. Over the past two and a half years I maintained a regular contact with him . In fact I last whatapped him on 30 March 2017. We had promised to see each other either in D.C or Mauritius. Unfortunately time did not favor us with this opportunity. His departure has ceated a vacuum which is difficult to be filled. He was of unique character and personality; always cheerful, cool, composed and caring. He was a Gentleman! My wife Mila, our son Yashvir and daughter Keshini join me in extending our heartfelt and deepest condolences on the passing of our dear Walker. our thoughts and prayers are with beloved wife, his children and the bereaved family and friends and to Ms. Shehnaz and Ken Williams. May His Soul Rest in Peace.
I was so sorry to hear about Walker’s passing. You have my most sincere condolences.
Be well.
The passing of Walker Williams this past weekend is a huge loss to the entire Africa-focused community in Washington. Walker was a fixture in the community, and engaged in a range of issues including trade, energy, education and healthcare. He also was very supportive of the Africa-focused community and at one point or another helped all of the key Africa-focused organizations including the Constituency for Africa, Africare, Transafrica, OIC International, the Africa Society and the Corporate Council on Africa. May his family be at peace in the knowledge that Walker is now resting in a better place with the Lord.
Friends, I was called on Saturday with this very sad news. Walker passed on Friday. We met in 1994 as we began the process of building the foundation of Thebe Investment Corporation alongside Vusi Khayile, Litha Nyhonyha, Moss Mashishi, Loren Braithwaite Kabosha, Zwelakhe Mankazana, Dawn Marole, Elizabeth Tryon, David Selvan and many others. It was a small but formidable team and people like Walker Williams became part of our small family that strived against many challenges to build Thebe to where it is today.
Kaya FM which I led the licence bid for and built from the ground up was one of the initiatives Walker played an instrumental role in guiding me through some of the challenges. He and Byron Lewis ( the founder of UniWorld, the first black advertising agency in the US which is now owned by WPP) were my mentors and introduced me to the Sutton family who owned WBLS.
If it hadn't been for Walker and Byron, I would not have met Given Mkari who was a student intern working at WBLS on my visit there and encouraged him to come home and be part of the first black owned commercial radio station which we launched in 1996. Given is a formidable media owner today and that meeting in New York was a result of Walker.
He became my mentor, a confidant on so many fronts, and a very, very close friend. He was there for me (and many others ) in every possible way, encouraging me to do the insurmountable...because in his words..."You are meant to."
It is hard to believe that this incredible person is gone. It is such a void in my life and many others.
He was a gentle giant. Full of laughter and consistency in everything he did and said.
Gone too soon Walker....I see your face, hear your gentle voice, your infectious laugh, your words of wisdom and reason. I was blessed to call you a dear friend. You are with God and Love now. Keep smiling my friend.
Leave a Tribute
I do miss his presence in my life. With great love and gratitude, Pam (Durham, NC)
A Glimpse
There are gems that some of us get to embrace and know and cherish forever while others can only momentarily glimpse and admire from a distance. What a wonderful gem of a person you held all your lives. How amazingly fortunate you all were, to have had Walker all this time. How lucky I was to have had even just a quick glimpse. My deepest condolences.
The Bet
I grew up with Walker in East Orange, NJ. My condolences go out to Kenneth, Elaine , and Diane.
This story "The Bet" goes back to when I was about 9 or 10 and Walker was a year older. I made a pinky bet with him that I would never grow up and smoke or drink. I lost the pinky bet when I was about 16 years old!! He never let me forget it.
As I have read all of the wonderful accomplishments Walker made in his life, I feel blessed to have been a part of his life. Rest In Peace, cousin.