The mortal remains of Mrs Florence Odi Walker, who was part of the formative years of The Church of Pentecost, have been interred after an impressive funeral service held in her honour at the Forecourt of the State House, Accra, on Saturday, August 19, 2023.
Mrs Odi Walker, who died at aged 101, was the wife of Apostle Fred Diabene Walker, a one-time Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost, who was one of the pillars of the church who supported the Founder of the church, Rev. James McKeown, to pioneer the church.
She is survived by six children, one of whom is Apostle Dr Daniel Walker, an Executive Council Member of the church, 29 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, all playing key roles in the church and society.
The funeral service was officiated by the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, assisted by the General Secretary, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, the La Area Head, Apostle Dr Dieudonne Komla Nuekpe, and members of the Executive Council, as well as heads of the church, retired ministers and serving ministers.
Also gracing the occasion were the Chief of Staff, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah (former Chairman of the church), chiefs, relations, and friends from all walks of life.
Consoling the family, Apostle Nyamekye, on behalf of The Church of Pentecost, prayed to God to encourage them. He also thanked them for their contributions to the church.
Biography
Mrs Florence Adjoa Odi Walker was born on June 19, 1922, to Osikani Kwabena Larbi of Adukrom-Akuapem Akweside Clan and Maame Lydia Adjoa Okyerebea, also of Adukrom-Akuapem. She was born into the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. In 1940 when she was 18 years old, she was confirmed into the Presbyterian Church at Adukrom.
She had her primary education at Adukrom Presbyterian School and completed Middle School at the Presbyterian Girls School, Agogo, in Ashanti. After school, she relocated to Koforidua to learn dressmaking and worked as a qualified seamstress at Koforidua for a few years. A colleague seamstress, the daughter of the Methodist Church minister at Adukrom, introduced her to The Church of Pentecost, then known as the Ghana Apostolic Church. She was baptised in 1945 by Pastor Anaman (now of blessed memory).
She got married in 1948 to the late Pastor Frederick Diabene Walker at Koforidua. Pastor James McKeown (Founder of the church) officiated the marriage.
She and her husband established several branches of the church on the Akuapem Ridge. In 1949, they were transferred to Obo-Kwahu. After three years of service, they were transferred to Kumasi in 1952. In 1956, Mama Florence and her husband were transferred to Kadjebi and served for five years till 1961, when they were transferred to Akim Oda. Their next duty station was Sekondi-Takoradi, where her husband was a Regional Head from 1966 to 1969. From 1969, the Walkers served at Sunyani as regional head in the then Brong-Ahafo Region until 1973, when they were transferred to Kumasi as the Ashanti Regional.
In 1976, she joined her husband to begin mission work in Liberia. They spent six years nurturing the church in Liberia until 1982 when they were recalled and posted to Cape Coast. They ended their ministry in Koforidua, where they served from 1984 to 1988 and retired from active service. Mama Florence lost her husband, Apostle Fred D. Walker, in October 1988, soon after retirement. She served the church in various ways at the Dzorwulu Assembly in Accra, where they settled after retirement.
Tributes
The children in their tributes described their mother as a wonderful mother whose immense care and tremendous support were unparallel, saying, “Indeed, words cannot describe the kind of mother she was to each of us. She brought us up in the fear of God and instilled discipline in us.”
In its tribute, the General Council of The Church of Pentecost said Mrs Florence Odi Walker was a blessing to the church and Ghana, indicating that her transition to the eternal realm is indeed cherished in the eyes of the Lord, for she lived and fulfilled her purpose as a faithful servant in her generation.
“As a woman of unshakeable faith, Mrs Walker embodied the roles of a prophetess, evangelist, teacher, and intercessor for the saints. Her life was a testament to her unwavering dedication to God and humanity,” it said.
It added: “Mrs Florence Odi Walker and her late husband, Apostle Fred Diabene Walker, played pivotal roles as pioneers within The Church of Pentecost. They stood side by side with the church’s Founder, Rev. James McKeown, during its formative years when it was known as the Gold Coast Apostolic Church.”
Sermon
Preaching the sermon at the service, Apostle Michael Collins Asiedu (Rtd.), a former Evangelism Ministry Director of the church, spoke on the topic, “Look to the rock and the quarry; remember your leaders” based on Isaiah 51:1-2; Hebrews 13:7-9.
He described Mrs Walker as a great woman because she made a maximum impact globally, raising great men and women across the world.
He called on the church to remember and follow her legacy and godly values, saying, “the Walkers have left us a heritage, and we have a corporate responsibility to protect it.”
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