2
trees
planted in memory of Ellis Walker Jr.
Obituary for Ellis Walker Jr.
April 7, 1952- September 2, 2021
Ellis (Eli) Walker, Jr. was born April 7, 1952, in Tampa, Florida and was the oldest child born to the late Ellis Walker, Sr. and Lena Audrey Holloway Walker.
He was a proud product of the Hillsborough educational system, graduating from Carver Elementary and Tampa Catholic High Schools. He remained close to his athletic family and attended many happy fun-filled occasions, celebrations as well as memorials and funeral services for former teammates, coaches, and mentors.
Eli was known in Tampa for his prowess as a running back (#22) on the football field as well as the song “Eli’s Coming” that was played to taunt his opponents during games. He was a member of 1970 Class A-B-C All-star Team. In 2010, Eli was inducted into the class of 1971 Hall of Fame at his Alma Mater “TCHS” where he set records including some that can never be broken. Eli was signed up to play for Jacksonville State University after setting a Hillsborough County scoring record of 176 points his junior season. He studied at Jacksonville State University prior to being drafted by the Marines, which prompted him to enlist in the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country.
In 1994 he was baptized by Pastor Wesley Bruce into the Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Gainesville, Florida. As a member of Bethel SDA Church, Ellis served as Pathfinder Leader, Basketball coach, Deacon and Elder. He also served as Area Coordinator for the Southeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Pathfinder organization.
In 1994 Ellis met his partner for life, the former Shirley King. Pastor Bruce officiated at their marriage on June 12, 1994 (Loving Day) and this past June, Ellis and Shirley celebrated their twenty-seventh wedding anniversary. Ellis was a dedicated husband and father, as well as a father-figure to many others.
Coach Walker was an all-around athlete. He enjoyed all sports including football, track and field, basketball and golfing. But he most of all loved mentoring young people. While coaching at Howard Bishop Middle School (Hawks), where he spent over three decades, Oak Hall (Eagles) and Hawthorne High School (Hornets) he had the opportunity to positively impact many young lives. He served as bus driver, mentor, and coach. He was an avid Gator and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan and wore his colors boldly.
He loved fishing. He really loved fishing and would display his catches on Facebook for all to see. After retiring in 2019, he and Shirley were able to take the trip of a lifetime to Alaska where he realized a lifelong desire to go deep sea fishing and to catch a salmon as big as Shirley…which he did!!
Coach Walker leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Shirley King-Walker; daughters, Trinita R. Walker (Tampa, Florida), Jamya Walker and Jayla Walker (Hawthorne, Florida); sons, Ellis Walker, III (Lakeland, Florida), Germele Walker (Yuma, Arizona), Zion Simmons (Richmond, Virginia), Shalyn Walker, and Jaret Walker (Hawthorne, Florida); brothers, Frederick Walker (Warner Robbins, Georgia), Osburt Walker, Sr. (Tampa, Florida) and Stacie Walker (Kim), Atlanta, Georgia; sister, Audrey LaShawn Lee (Kevin), Indiana.
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Ellis (Eli) Walker, Jr. was born April 7, 1952, in Tampa, Florida and was the oldest child born to the late Ellis Walker, Sr. and Lena Audrey Holloway Walker.
He was a proud product of the Hillsborough educational system, graduating from Carver Elementary and Tampa Catholic High Schools. He remained close to his athletic family and attended many happy fun-filled occasions, celebrations as well as memorials and funeral services for former teammates, coaches, and mentors.
Eli was known in Tampa for his prowess as a running back (#22) on the football field as well as the song “Eli’s Coming” that was played to taunt his opponents during games. He was a member of 1970 Class A-B-C All-star Team. In 2010, Eli was inducted into the class of 1971 Hall of Fame at his Alma Mater “TCHS” where he set records including some that can never be broken. Eli was signed up to play for Jacksonville State University after setting a Hillsborough County scoring record of 176 points his junior season. He studied at Jacksonville State University prior to being drafted by the Marines, which prompted him to enlist in the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country.
In 1994 he was baptized by Pastor Wesley Bruce into the Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Gainesville, Florida. As a member of Bethel SDA Church, Ellis served as Pathfinder Leader, Basketball coach, Deacon and Elder. He also served as Area Coordinator for the Southeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Pathfinder organization.
In 1994 Ellis met his partner for life, the former Shirley King. Pastor Bruce officiated at their marriage on June 12, 1994 (Loving Day) and this past June, Ellis and Shirley celebrated their twenty-seventh wedding anniversary. Ellis was a dedicated husband and father, as well as a father-figure to many others.
Coach Walker was an all-around athlete. He enjoyed all sports including football, track and field, basketball and golfing. But he most of all loved mentoring young people. While coaching at Howard Bishop Middle School (Hawks), where he spent over three decades, Oak Hall (Eagles) and Hawthorne High School (Hornets) he had the opportunity to positively impact many young lives. He served as bus driver, mentor, and coach. He was an avid Gator and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan and wore his colors boldly.
He loved fishing. He really loved fishing and would display his catches on Facebook for all to see. After retiring in 2019, he and Shirley were able to take the trip of a lifetime to Alaska where he realized a lifelong desire to go deep sea fishing and to catch a salmon as big as Shirley…which he did!!
Coach Walker leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Shirley King-Walker; daughters, Trinita R. Walker (Tampa, Florida), Jamya Walker and Jayla Walker (Hawthorne, Florida); sons, Ellis Walker, III (Lakeland, Florida), Germele Walker (Yuma, Arizona), Zion Simmons (Richmond, Virginia), Shalyn Walker, and Jaret Walker (Hawthorne, Florida); brothers, Frederick Walker (Warner Robbins, Georgia), Osburt Walker, Sr. (Tampa, Florida) and Stacie Walker (Kim), Atlanta, Georgia; sister, Audrey LaShawn Lee (Kevin), Indiana.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Thursday
16
Sep
4:00 PM
- 6:00 PM
Pinkney-Smith Funeral Home - Hawthorne
21400 SE Hawthorne Road
Hawthorne, FL 32640
MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING OBSERVED
Service
Thursday
16
Sep
6:15 PM
Hawthorne High School Football Stadium
21101 SE Hawthorne Road
Hawthorne, FL 32640
MEMORIAL SERVICE: MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING OBSERVED
Graveside
Friday
17
Sep
1:00 PM
Rest Haven Memorial Park
4615 East Hanna Avenue
Tampa, FL 33610
MASK AND SOCIAL DISTANCING OBSERVED
Cemetery Details
Location
Rest Haven Memorial Park
4615 East Hanna Avenue
Tampa, FL 33610
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