Yolanda F. Walker

Yolanda Felicia Walker was born on November 22, 1972, at Riverside Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, to Winston and Joan Walker. From an early age, she embraced her faith in Christ and was baptized at King Solomon Baptist Church. Yolanda’s educational journey began in Nashville, where she attended elementary school before moving to Indianapolis, Indiana, for high school. She graduated from Lawrence Central High School, class of 1990. Yolanda then attended the illustrious Tennessee State University. In 1998, she graduated from Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. That same year, she was accepted into Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia, where she graduated with a Master of Divinity in Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care. In addition to her degrees, she completed graduate coursework in Marriage and Family Therapy at Trevecca Nazarene University. While in Seminary, she completed a Unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Emory and Crawford Long Hospitals, and later became an On-Call Chaplain at both facilities. As a young adult, Yolanda attended Sunrise Baptist Church with Reverend Jones Sr., where she heard the Lord's call to the ministry. Early in her ministry, she attended Pentecostal Tabernacle Church. She went on to join Pastor Breonus Mitchell Church, in 2003 she was ordained under his leadership. Throughout her ministry, Yolanda served across various denominations, including Baptist, Methodist, and Church of God in Christ. She made her home in Nashville, Tennessee. She also served as a Pastoral Counselor with the Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee, where she counseled youth, women, and men on recovery, abuse, anger management, and substance abuse. Yolanda served as Chaplain and Volunteer Coordinator at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, formerly known as the Tennessee Prison for Women, in Nashville, Tennessee, for 22 years. This made her the first African American woman to serve in this role. In this position, she provided spiritual guidance, counseling, and religious services to incarcerated women, participating in programs that promoted salvation, healing, and deliverance

She co-founded and served as Executive Director of Tri-Fold Outreach, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to providing Christian counseling, Curriculum Resources, and Community Outreach Services to inmates, ex-offenders, and the community. Yolanda is a Registered Addiction Specialist Intern with the Breining Institute and has had membership in the following organizations: American Association of Christian Counselors, Tennessee Correctional Association, and Association for Probation and Parole. Yolanda’s contributions were recognized in media outlets such as CBS News, ABC News Online, The Christian Post, and the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), “Second Chance for Prisoners. ” Her passion for helping those who had been forgotten, wounded, or impacted by addiction and incarceration reflected her commitment to her faith. In addition, Yolanda co-founded “The Yolanda and Cornelius Show” Podcast. Yolanda was also a proud mother of Ashley Walker. She was a gifted speaker, author, life coach, teacher, counselor, and intercessor. She engaged with the community through various fellowship programs, focusing on women and marginalized populations, and equipping them for leadership and spiritual growth. With God’s help, she worked to empower the disenfranchised and impact communities for the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. Yolanda was preceded in death by her grandmothers, Mabel Gibson and Luegenia Walker; her grandfather, Henry Alton Walker Sr; her uncle, Henry Alton Walker Jr.; and her aunts Mattie Lou Hudson and Willa Taylor. Yolanda is remembered by her parents, Winston and Joan Walker; her daughter, Ashley Walker; her grandson, Thaddeus Walker-Vaughn; her brother, Jonathan Walker; and her sister, Michele Gibson. Her aunts: Myra Roper, Mozelle (John) Smith, Luevenia Linthicome, Eunice Brown, Anita (Bill) Spinks, Virgie Walker, Faye Shepherd, Therisa (Richard) Young, Rebecca (Tommy) Whitorn, and DeLois Davis. Her uncles include Lavern Taylor, Marvin Walker, Larry (Dorothy) Walker, and Arlan Gibson. Nieces are Aliyah Granberry, Jalah Granberry, Kyrah Granberry, Daya Major, Da’Niyah Major, and Mystic Foster; Cousins Charlotte Hurt, Vickie Hurt, Rosalind (Sam) Locke, Anthony Johnson, Celia ( Errol ) Jeffries, Amber Smith, Karen(Jamie) Isabel, Deborah Anderson, Stacie Linthicome, Sandie Linthicome, Greg Linthicome, Marva Walker, Micheal Walker, Cody Walker, Jared Brown, Jason Brown, Brandon Fletcher, Linden” Gonzo” (Sydnee) Bradford, Antwan Hudson, Steven (Bridget) Hudson, Terri Hudson, Anthony Johnson Jr., Authena Dumas, Henry Walker ( Jeanette )III, Patricia Chatman, Charlynn Walker and Rodney Taylor. Yolanda is survived by a host of loving family members and dear friends.