William H. Walker, III

William Henry Walker, III, a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, farmer, veteran, and public servant, lived a life marked by faithfulness, integrity, discipline, and honor. Whether tending the family farm, serving the people of Tennessee, promoting agriculture, creating beautiful floral arrangements, or faithfully serving his church, Bill sought to honor Christ by serving others. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM, at the First United Methodist Church with Dr. Edsel D. Pate, Jr. officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, at the First United Methodist Church.

Bill was born on October 28, 1933, in Shelby County, Tennessee, to William H. Walker Jr. and Evelyn Brandon Walker. His life was forever changed in 1945 when his friend Ray Booth, the preacher’s son, invited him to attend a church revival. There, Bill was born again, beginning a lifelong journey of faith that would shape his character, guide his decisions, and direct the way he lived. From that day forward, he sought to honor Christ with his whole life, believing that a life well lived was one devoted to God and the service of others.

Bill graduated from Haywood High School in 1951 and attended the University of Tennessee before being drafted into the United States Army in January 1955. During his military service, Staff Sergeant Walker served as Chief of Fire Direction for a 280mm artillery battery. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to the University of Tennessee, where he met June Elisabeth Derryberry. The two married and began a remarkable life together, sharing 67 years of marriage, family, faith, and enduring love. Bill completed his master's degree in agriculture in 1962.

Upon graduation, Bill returned to his family’s dairy farm, Reklaw Farm, in Haywood County, Tennessee. There, he milked cows, drove tractors, and planted corn, cotton, and soybeans, developing the deep appreciation for the land and the people who worked it that would define his professional life. It was also on the farm that he and June raised their two children, Alison Elisabeth Walker Tomes and Brandon Rew Walker. The farm was more than a livelihood; it was a place where hard work, responsibility, perseverance, and family were woven into everyday life.

In 1968, Bill was encouraged to run for the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing Haywood and Crockett Counties. He served during the 1969–1970 term, during which he helped pass the Hatchie Scenic River Bill, reflecting his commitment to preserving Tennessee's natural resources and serving the interests of its people.

Bill's agricultural expertise and commitment to public service led to increasingly significant roles in state and federal government. In 1971, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture under Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn. In 1975, he was asked to serve in the U.S.D.A. which led to his promotion to Assistant U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Gerald Ford. Upon returning to Tennessee, he served as Deputy Commissioner and later Commissioner of Agriculture under Governor Lamar Alexander.

Bill was subsequently invited to serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture under President Ronald Reagan. Instead, he chose to remain connected to the farmers and agricultural community he loved, becoming president of Agricenter International in Memphis on April 15, 1987. For eight years, he championed Mid-South agricultural products and promoted the value of Tennessee farming to the broader nation. His work was never simply about policy or position; it was about the farmers whose livelihoods depended on the land and the communities sustained by their labor.

Beyond his elected and appointed offices, Bill gave generously of his time and leadership to higher education. He served on the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, the Board of Regents of Tennessee's state universities, and the Board of Trustees for Union University. His service reflected his enduring belief in the importance of education, strong institutions, and preparing future generations to lead.

Bill's life of service extended well beyond government and agriculture. Following his retirement from public life, he pursued another of his great passions: flower arranging. He opened and operated Garden Treasures, a floral business through which he transformed flowers into beautiful expressions of love, comfort, celebration, and hope. His arrangements graced churches, weddings, funerals, and special gatherings, bringing beauty and meaning to some of life's most significant moments. The same hands that had worked the soil of Reklaw Farm and served the people of Tennessee now created floral masterpieces that touched countless lives.

Yet, of all the places Bill served and all the positions he held, his most beloved place of service was the local church. His faith was not merely a part of his life; it was the foundation of it. He served faithfully as a deacon, sang in the choir, and worshiped alongside his church family. The public honors he received were meaningful, but his deepest desire was to live faithfully before his Lord. His life bore witness to the truth that greatness is not measured solely by titles or accomplishments, but by the faith with which one lives and the love with which one serves.

Bill was recognized throughout his career for his dedication to agriculture, including being named the 1983 Man of the Year in Service to Tennessee Agriculture. Yet those who knew him best will remember more than his professional achievements. They will remember his steadfast convictions, his disciplined work ethic, his quiet integrity, his love for the land, his creative spirit, and his desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

His legacy lives on in the family he loved, the faith he cherished, the farmers he championed, the institutions he served, the flowers he arranged, and the countless people whose lives were enriched by his example.

Bill will be lovingly remembered by his two children, Alison Elisabeth Walker Tomes (Aaron) and Brandon Rew Walker (Marilyn); his six grandchildren; his four great-grandchildren; and the many friends, colleagues, fellow believers, and members of the agricultural community who were blessed to know him. His 67-year marriage to June Elisabeth Derryberry was a treasured part of his life and a testament to the enduring commitment they shared.

Though his earthly life has come to a close, the influence of a life faithfully lived will continue through generations. His family finds comfort in knowing that the faith that guided him throughout his life now rests in the promises of the Savior he loved and served. The family requests memorials be made to the Read Willis Music Fund, c/o First United Methodist Church, 117 E. Franklin St., Brownsville, TN, 38012.

Well done, good and faithful servant.