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Edna R. Walker, age 54, a psychiatric nurse and committed family and community member, died at home on Thursday, January 12, 2006 after a courageous 2 ½ year battle with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She was a resident of Montgomery County, MD for over thirty years.

Edna was born on January 19, 1951 in Brandon, Mississippi to Mrs. Roberta Ward. While growing up, she worked to put herself through high school at the Piney Woods Boarding School in Piney Woods, MS, graduating in 1969. She continued her education with a scholarship to Howard University, where she met her husband, Elijah C. Walker. They were united in marriage the day of his graduation on June 5, 1971 at Howard University’s Rankin Chapel in Washington, D.C.

Following a brief stint in upstate New York, Edna and her husband returned to the Washington, DC area where they both worked at the National Institutes of Health. She was awarded a full scholarship to attend Georgetown University’s School of Nursing where she received her B.S. R.N with honors in 1984. She was also a member of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, and received recognition from the Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies for "Commitment to clinical excellence and dedication to the profession of nursing".

Edna dedicated her life to helping people, professionally and personally. As a nurse, she believed in superior patient care and was dedicated to helping others and encouraging others to study nursing. One of her mentee's is now serving as a missionary nurse, running an orphanage in Haiti. Edna worked in medical research as well as in community nursing at the National Institutes of Health, Henry Jackson Foundation for Advancement of Military Medicine, Washington Hospital Center and Howard University Hospital. A magnetic and charismatic individual, she had a profound way of touching those she came in contact with. Edna was a superb mother, wife, and nurse extraordinaire. She was compassionate, caring, and taught others how to find joy in life and how to show love to one another.

Edna is survived by her husband, Elijah; her two children, Zuri and Elijah II; her mother, Roberta; seven brothers and sisters, Raphael, Gloria, William, Phil, Josephine, Eric, and Jerome. She is further survived by numerous additional relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her brother, Jessie.

A memorial service for Edna Walker will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, January 21 at Church of the Atonement (301-649-4131) 10613 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland 20902. Family and friends are welcome to attend this service.

Funeral services will be held in her hometown in Brandon, Mississippi, the week of January 23. For more information on attending this service, or sending flowers, please visit http://www.elijahwalker.com, or contact Zuri Walker at 301-379-6164.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies, St. Mary's Hall, 3700 Reservoir Rd. N.W., Washington D.C. 20057-1107. For more information contact Maureen Marsh at 202-687-3118. Donations will be used to bring nursing care to underserved communities.

In preparing a living memorial of Edna, family and friends are encouraged to write a few sentences recalling a favorite memory of Edna and/or lesson learned from her. These brief stories can be emailed to the following address: language@gmail.com .