Richmond City Council /
News Release
For sharing, forwarding and posting
Tuesday,
23 January 2018
A statement from
Richmond City Council
Regarding
the passing of The Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker
Richmond, Virginia
U.S.A. - "It is with deep and profound sadness that Richmond City
Council learned of the passing today of The Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker.
A Richmond-area resident for a number of years, The Rev. Dr. Wyatt
Tee Walker was an important national civil rights activist for more than 60
years and had served as a Chief of Staff to The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
He passed today at his home in Chester, Virginia at age 88.
Our hearts and prayers go out to his family during this
difficult time as we share in mourning his passing and in honoring and remembering
his tremendous life, historic contributions, and legacy.
A true national treasure, Dr. Walker helped lead trailblazing
efforts fighting racial injustice and will be long remembered for his work on
behalf of racial equality and African American success.
Born in Brockton, Massachusetts on August 16, 1929, Dr. Walker
earned his Bachelor's Degree in 1950 from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia and his Master of Divinity Degree from there three years
later. He also held a doctorate from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
in Rochester, New York. Ordained as a minister in 1952, Dr. Walker served for
seven years as a preacher at Gillfield Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virginia.
While in Petersburg, Dr. Walker was a staunch proponent and tireless advocate on behalf of African
American equality, which took him to the world stage as he went on to serve as an
integral leader and strategist within the national civil rights movement.
During his lifetime, Dr. Walker worked to advance, strengthen, and increase the economic, housing,
educational, and political status of African Americans.
Richmond City Council and Richmond residents join together in
recognizing and honoring The Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker for his
lifetime of work in helping our nation live up to its ideals. We extend our
deepest sympathy to his family."
- E N D -
