passing of Debra Walker?????

I seen this as well. Prayers sent to the family. Was this due to a condition or ongoing sickness?
 
I heard she was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident. Condolences and prayers to her family and friends.
 
Very sorry to hear that. She was an awesome, strong lady. Thoughts out for her family and friends.
 
I was told a motorcycle accident. She was airlifted but didn't make it.
 
:( Very sad..
 
Real sad. I met her several times passing thru and on volunteer days. She was so nice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
She was a really nice lady. Gave her a ride back to the parking lot a couple times. listening to her talk, she really cared about uwharrie.

I searched for service information but no luck, anyone heard?
 
Posted yesterday on the Friends of Uwharrie FB page -

Tomorrow, November 4th at noon we will have a processional of Forest Service vehicles to honor Deborah Walker. You are welcome to stand along the route that is described in the message below as we take Deborah’s ashes home. Several locations that have parking that would be a good location for you to watch the processional are the Highway 109 Trailhead, Mountain Market/Boondocks Grill in Uwharrie, Montgomery Community College, or Uwharrie Ranger District. We appreciate your support at this time. - Terry
 
That's sad. I always guessed she was someone who cared about Uwharrie.
 
Wish I would have known about the Nov. 4th processional. Anyways, here is the piece from this week's Montgomery Herald.

"A beloved friend to users of the Uwharrie National Forest community has passed away. Forest Ranger Deborah Walker died Saturday as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Walker was riding her new motorcycle near Sparta when the accident occurred. Walker’s husband James was following her on his bike at the time of the accident. Monday night James talked about what happened and the life the two of them had built together, noting Deborah had been planning this trip to see the fall leaves and to test out her new motorcycle, which James said was bigger than her old bike, for a couple of weeks. The two of them had gone up through Mt. Airy and gotten on the Blue Ridge Parkway, before hitting N.C. Highway 21 to head for home. It was while on Highway 21, not far from Sparta, that the accident occurred. James, who was following Deborah, said she was close to the edge of the road and the bike seemed to spin on her and she lost control. James rushed to Deborah and lagged down a passing motorist to call for help. Deborah was air-lifted to a local hospital, where she died from her injuries.
Retirement for Deborah was only three to four years away and James said she was already making plans for a second career, looking to enter culinary school. The two of them had fallen in love with their quiet country life in Ophir, where they had joined the church and made close friends. After moving around the country for Deborah’s job, the pair planned to stay in the Uwharries. They learned to rely on each other while Deborah worked out West since it was just the two of them, with family back East. When asked to pick a trait he most loved about his wife of almost 30 years, James asked, “Just one?” One is quick to realize that Deborah and James shared a special bond.
James went on to say he admired Deborah’s optimism, her willingness to get out of her comfort zone, her willingness to try something new and her determination to do things well. James noted that whatever Deborah was doing, be it kayaking or riding her bike, she wanted to be the best. James and Deborah irst met as teenagers when he was dating one of her friends. James said Deborah didn’t care for him at that time, but when they reconnected a few years later by chance at a nightclub, the two hit it off and have been together ever since. James wants people to know how hard Deborah worked for the various users of the national forest. “She was passionate and she had to work hard behind the scenes to keep the trails open and to unite the different groups,” said James.
James noted that it was important to Deborah that they put down roots and become part of the community, in part so people would know she was not some outsider making decisions with no investment in the community. While working in the community Deborah bonded with many people including Crystal Cockman, land protection director for the LandTrust of Central North Carolina. The pair worked on many projects including the acquisition of additional property for the Uwharrie National Forest, facilitated through the LandTrust. Cockman said, “Deborah was a remarkable person. She was a wonderful leader and cared deeply about conservation of natural resources and sharing the outdoors with others. She was a great partner to the LandTrust having helped with numerous projects adding onto the national forest and expanding the Uwharrie Trail, but she was also a close personal friend of mine.
She volunteered her time to help others, and was always there when you needed her. Her smile could light up a room, and she had a sweet spirit. She was uniquely able to bring people together to reach common goals.” Walker has been the ranger here for approximately 10 years and during that time she fell in love with the Uwharries. In a 2013 interview with Montgomery Herald, Walker talked about working previously in Tahoe National Forest, in Cibola National Forest and in Sequoia National Forest, but said Uwharrie National Forest was the best place to work. Walker continued, “The job is a challenge, the public is involved, the community is supportive and the opportunities are endless.”
During her time here Walker expanded relationships with user groups and environmental groups seeking to preserve the forest and develop a good management practice. Allen Nicholas, superintendent for national forests in North Carolina said Walker was a warm, caring person who showed great leadership skills. Nicholas noted that Walker was able to take what is best for the people and the land and make it work. “She was thoughtful in her leadership and she really connected with the people,” said Nicholas. Deborah's friendship with Marla Coulthard went back several years. Up until recently Coulthard lived in Uwharrie and worked closely with Deborah on a number of projects. Coulthard said, "I admired Deborah so much. To say she was a strong woman is such an understatement. But, she was fun loving, too. We had a lot of good times — though not nearly as many as I would have liked. We hiked the trails, paddled the Uwharrie River and Falls Reservoir and sat by the ire at Kings Mountain Point where my late husband (with a little help from me) served as host for seven years. “Deborah believed in public participation in all matters relating to the forest. She’d always say, ‘It’s your forest, not mine!’ and she meant it.
She encouraged wide participation during the forest management plan process a few years back and most recently in the two-year trail strategy process. Since she arrived here in 2005, the user groups have really stepped up and taken responsibility for maintaining their trails. This goes for hikers, off-roaders, mountain bikers and horse riders — all of us who recreate in the forest. “Yet there was never a doubt about who was in charge of the Uwharrie National Forest. Deborah never shied away from making decisions. Her passing leaves some big boots to ill. “Deborah took her community responsibilities seriously and was involved in many causes, and not all were forest related. We served together on the Montgomery Tourism Development Authority, Land Use Planning Committee, Friends of Uwharrie, as well as events like the Uwharrie Mountain Run and Uwharrie Mountain Festival. She had good solid ideas and could come up with a plan in a skinny minute. “Deborah would support any good and practical suggestion the user groups came up with.
She has worked closely with the Uwharrie Trailblazers and LandTrust for Central North Carolina with our efforts to reconnect the historic Uwharrie Trail. With her help, we’ve added eight miles of trail and we have only a few miles to go to connect the southern end of the Uwharrie Trail to the Birkhead Mountain Wilderness. I know she would be pleased to see that work completed. And she worked equally well with the other groups,” concluded Coulthard.
Longtime friend Chris Cagle struggled with words to express his feelings at the loss of Walker, but repeatedly noted she was a uniter, a friend to many and an advocate for the Uwharrie National Forest. Cagle, along with other members of the Friends of Uwharrie, which Deborah founded, plan a celebration of life Dec. 10 at the field across from The Eldorado Outpost. Lunch and fellowship begin at noon, with a service set for 2 p.m. Memorials may be given in Deborah’s honor to Friends of the Uwharries or to the family. Send check marked as such to 789 N.C. Highway 24/27 East, Troy, NC 27371."
 
yea,I was moved alot by what I read. Now we have to look at the future and to whomever takes over for her. Waiting game now.
 
Back
Top