Join us as we celebrate the life of Laura Jeanne Francisco Walker on Saturday, November 22, 11a, at The Church at Ponce and Highland, located at 1085 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30030.
The service can be attended in-person or via livestream. The livestream will be available via:
Laura Jeanne Francisco Walker passed away at her home in Sheridan Eastside Assisted Living, Snellville, Georgia on July 30, 2025 at the age of 92. She was born on March 10, 1933 in Orlando, Florida where she attended public school. Her achievements at Orlando High School include Honor Society, Senior Class President, member of the National Federation League (debate team), Student Council member and Junior Red Cross. Upon graduation in 1951, she married Graham Brown Walker, also a Baptist. During Graham’s U.S. Army service in the Korean War, they lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia. Returning to Orlando, she and Graham became parents of 4 children from 1956 to 1963. Jeanne devoted her work to parenting, homemaking, and actively contributing to First Baptist Church of Orlando, Sunday School, Training Union and Women’s Missionary Union. Later, she became a regional manager of sales for World Book Encyclopedia in central Florida. In 1969, Jeanne and Graham became Southern Baptist Missionaries to Singapore where she lived for 28 years. Her work there included training Baptist leaders, establishing a pre-school program, and founding and managing the Great Joy Media Centre. Retiring to Longwood, Florida in 1998, Jeanne enjoyed teaching English as a second language, entertaining Asian friends at home, tending her rose garden, watching the wildlife of Wekiwa Springs in her backyard, and engaging with grandchildren. In 2016, Jeanne and Graham moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee to be closer to family. There she enjoyed engaging with family, the community of St. Elmo United Methodist Church, flower arranging, gardening, and watching hummingbirds. In 2020, they moved to Snellville, Georgia, their final home. At Sheridan, Jeanne, also known as Laura, enjoyed a welcoming community where she spread love, joy and beauty each day.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Graham Brown Walker (2022), her mother, Sammie Belcher Francisco (2005), her brothers Hugh Donald Francisco Jr. (2024) and James Farris Francisco (2004) and is survived by her family: Judith Francisco Dwyer (Tim) of Tennessee, Katherine Francisco Tosh (Fred) of Georgia, Graham Brown Walker, Jr. (Mimi) of Atlanta, Laura Susan Walker (Carol) of Birmingham, David Marshall Walker (Susan) of Montgomery, and Amy Walker Coleman (Jim) of Chattanooga, along with 7 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.