- Date Of Birth: December 21, 1935
- Date Of Death: April 2, 2018
- State: Illinois
Cleo Bernice Walker, 82, of Jacksonville and formerly of East St. Louis, passed away Monday, April 2, 2018, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
She was born Dec. 21, 1935, in Gary, IN, the daughter of Leo and Johnny Mae Jonas Hendricks. She married her high school sweetheart, Charles “Sneeze” Walker Sr., on Feb. 14, 1953. From this union, they raised seven children.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Charles S. Walker Sr. of Jacksonville; four sons, Derrick Walker (deceased wife, Sharon) of Jacksonville, Devin Walker of Belleville, Charles S. Walker Jr. (Jaunice) of Springfield, and Roderick Thompson (Artemis Phillips II) of Collinsville; one daughter, Daphne Walker of Belleville; a special niece, Bernice Bush Bond of Fairview Heights; fifteen grandchildren, Mark Bush, Kendra Bailey, Markisha Mitchell, Derrick Walker Jr., Vaundra Mitchell, Roderick Thomas, Darnell Walker, Thomas Walker, Charmaine Walker, Lynda Walker, Charles Walker III, Georgia Walker, Cartez Walker, Devin Walker Jr., Cheyenne Walker, and Brittany Walker; twenty-one great grandchildren; two brothers, Edward Leo (Rosetta) Hendricks of Washington DC, and Thomas Hendricks of Omaha, NE; three sisters, Debra Hendricks of California, and Denise Hendricks and Althea Hendricks, both of Omaha NE; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Bryan Walker (surviving wife, Teresa of Springfield); a granddaughter, Regina Thomas; and one great granddaughter, C’Mia Thomas.
Mrs. Walker received her education in East St. Louis and Gary, IN. She began her career with Burkhart in East St. Louis, IL as a fabric trimmer. She then retired from Excel Processing Center in Beardstown as a Quality Control Inspector. Cleo was an avid seamstress who enjoyed sewing. She traveled the world with the Metro East Social Club. In 1957, she was crowned Queen of the Progressive Men Social Club. She enjoyed sponsoring the Annual New Year’s Eve Party and playing Biz Wiz with her closest friends. Above all, her greatest joy was her family. Cleo loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had a heart of gold, an infectious smile, and was one of the Jazziest Grandmothers you’ll ever meet.
