Naomi Counts Walker

North Augusta, SC --- Naomi Counts Walker, 94, entered into rest peacefully, in the comfort of her own home & went to be with the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ to her Heavenly Home on Sunday, August 18, 2024. By her side in her last moments, were her loving daughter, Victoria (Vicki) Walker Marshall & her amazing & beautiful furry friend & companion, Calico, whom has been her human-like cat for 24 years & Debra Hartshorn, our dearest family friend & long-time neighbor all these years, who really cared about Naomi’s well-being & loved her so very much. Naomi was a fighter & a survivor. She drew strength from her faith in God. She lived her life to the fullest in discovering life’s treasures with love, laughter, joy & a determination to care for others. She was loved by everyone who knew her. “To Know Her is to Love Her” Naomi was born in Columbia, SC on March 1, 1930. She grew up there & graduated from Olympia High School on June 9, 1949. While attending High School, she was on the Basketball Team; Cheerleader; Student Council; Glee Club & honored into the National Glee Club; Dramatics Club; Debater’s Club Secretary; Soloist (Singer); Also Sang in a Band; Beta Club Secretary; Journalism Club; Editor of Olympian Newsletter; Assistant Business Manager of the Olympian Yearbook; Marshal; Chairman of the Finance Committee; Coronation Lady-in-Waiting; Voted Best All-Round; Best Disposition; Most Entertaining; & Friendliest at Olympia High. After graduating, Naomi worked for Southern Bell (now AT&T), as a switchboard operator & later advanced to Southern Bell Accounting in Columbia, SC. While in Belvedere, SC, she was employed at DuPont at SRS in Aiken, SC, until she started their family. Later in her life, in North Augusta, SC, she was employed at Summerfield Annex Elementary School for 20 years, as the school secretary. But she really took the job, to be near the children she adored & to mentor them & make a difference in their lives. She loved her job so very much & all her co-workers & being in a school environment, assisting the teachers & the principal & especially all the of the children. Her eyes & spirit would always sparkle with joy around any children in her presence. She took care of all of her grandchildren & enjoyed every moment. A gift from God! While living in Columbia, SC, she met Vincent Walker, after he had returned from Japan, where he was stationed, after his service in the US Army during the Korean War. He was transferred & stationed later to Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC, as a Sergeant in the US Army. He met Naomi for the first time with his Army pal & was his best friend, R.E Rosenzwweig of Miami, FL. After Vince met Naomi, on that same special first day, he told his Army pal, that he was going to marry Naomi? It was Love at first sight! There first date was on Valentine’s Day on February 14, 1952. He came to the front door bearing a dozen red roses & a wrapped gift. They went out to dinner & then later, he had her unwrap the other gift & it was a Cookbook & he said his mother was an awful cook! Love his humor! As they say, “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!” Naomi had met the Love of her life & found that they were meant for each other, after several months of dating. They followed their hearts, the only compass they needed. About 5 months later, they were married at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Columbia, SC on July 7, 1952. A match truly made in Heaven! The Rev. Henry Wingard, officiated & Clyde Green was the Organist & Paul McMahon was the Soloist. Their Best Man was the Army pal, whom Vince had told that first day they met, that he was going to marry her? Vincent was true to his words! They honeymooned in Canada at Niagara Falls. They were married for almost 60 years, as Vincent went to Heaven to be with his Savior in 2011, after a long battle with Alzheimers. Naomi & all of our family & friends were all heartbroken. We all miss him so very much & all loved him dearly, as he gave us all so many special memories to cherish for a lifetime & so much love, and so much fun, too. He was an only child & delighted in having 3 children & especially grandchildren. Vincent was offered employment with DuPont at SRS in Aiken, SC, as a chemical engineer, so they moved to Belvedere, SC & resided there for many years & started their family. They outgrew their home, so moved to their new home in North Augusta, SC & have since been life-long residents. They were loyal members of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in North Augusta, SC. Naomi always adored all of her Church Family & sang in the choir & taught Sunday School & Vacation Bible School. She loved everyone in the congregation & always enjoyed the fellowship after church on Sundays. She especially loved the Lutheran Woman, that all met together once a month & she always looked forward to being together with her church girlfriends. Naomi was a devoted Christian, who loved to spread the joy of the Lord & was a steadfast believer in the Holy Bible. Naomi & the family & friends enjoyed boating days on the weekends at Clarks Hill Lake, SC & especially during the Summer. She loved to slalom water-ski. Vince built a workshop in the backyard in Belvedere, SC, so he could build his first leisure boat for water-skiing, etc. Vince built hydroplane boats & was on a racing team & built & flew remote control model airplanes in a club & built furniture for our home & built an amazing stereo system into a large wooden credenza he built for our living room, so all the family & friends could sing & dance together. Naomi & Vince were both avid Bridge players & loved playing Bridge together with couples on Friday nights. Loved camping vacations in our travel trailer at Hunting Beach State Park, SC & other locations in the USA. They included regular trips to Hilton Head Island, SC to their vacation villa to socialize, play bridge & meet many new-found friends. Naomi was in a Bowling League, Golf League, Bridge Club & Garden Club with all her lady friends & enjoyed & loved all of those friendships & the longevity of all their years together. She loved lighthouses & had an amazing collection & also photographed many on her travel adventures. Naomi also enjoyed dancing; (Jitterbug, Swing, Foxtrot, Twist, (Thanks to Elvis); music; (Big Band, Jazz, Rock’n’Roll); photography, writing, flower arranging & sewing & was an awesome seamstress. Naomi & Vince were both avid world travelers & enjoyed many vacations with family & friends (Australia & the Orient, etc.) & cruising the high seas, Alaska & Europe, were favorites amongst many! She was a loyal supporter & fan of the SC Gamecocks & the Atlanta Braves & all of our family loved Golf the most, especially during Masters Week every year in Augusta, GA, the Best Golf Tournament Ever!! She was a big fan of Arnold Palmer (Arnie’s Army), Gary Player & Jack Nicholas & Tiger Woods! Naomi found the simple pleasures of life with her caring & kind heart & warm personality. She lived her life to the fullest, filled with lots of laughter & lasting memories with family & friends & all their great times together. She had a heart of gold & loved everybody & everything! Her lovely smile was contagious with her beautiful blue eyes. Her unwavering faith in God guided her every step & her infectious humor brightened the lives of those around her with her kind compassionate & caring nature. Naomi found solace & strength in her relationship with the Lord & she was comforted in God’s loving embrace of life with a spirit of gratitude & laughter. May Naomi’s soul rest in Heavenly Peace & knowing she brought laughter, love & faith to all those she touched. As we say good-bye to a woman of faith & good humor, let us continue to find joy in life’s moments & remember to smile & laugh often & trust in God’s divine plan. And most of all to be kind to one another, as one never knows what kind of shoes others are walking in? Her generosity bloomed from her heart! It was evident in all her relationships. She loved without judgement & greed. Naomi was a beloved Mother & Grandmother with patience & forgiveness. She was a strong believer in the power of prayer & embraced life with laughter & a spirit of gratitude. Her love & legacy will forever live on in the hearts of those she touched & were fortunate to know her. She treasured her family & she cared deeply for her family, friends & neighbors & always opened their home to all. Our parents worked very hard to provide for all their children & grandchildren, they were self-made individuals & honest human beings. And they always acknowledged the lifetime friendships she shared with so many special friends in North Augusta, SC. They will always be in our hearts. We, the family & extended family & special friends, have always been so proud of our parents & hope we can all walk in their footsteps. Naomi always said her last request was for all family to always get along with each other & love one another. They lived life to the fullest & accomplished so much, but remember, it took a lot of hard work together for the past 60 years, so without a Naomi, there would not be a Vince & without a Vince, there would not be Naomi! What a loving & wonderful couple the Lord shared with all of us! Praise the Lord! Naomi & Vince enjoyed traveling together & with close friends & meeting people from all over the world. She loved adding names to her Christmas list of old & new friends she had met along the way in her travels, some close to home & some far away! She never met a stranger! “Make new friends & keep the old, one is silver & the other gold!” Naomi was a Hallmark Queen & never threw away any card, as they all seemed so very special to her & she would carry them in her purse & share them with everybody. She adored all special occasions & all were very special to her, but she adored & loved celebrating the miracles of the Christmas Season the most with family, friends & neighbors & sending cards & letters throughout the USA & across the globe. She enjoyed playing all her Christmas Carols & her Singalongs with family & friends. Especially “White Christmas” & “Only Forever” by Bing Crosby & “Mary, Did You Know?”. Jesus is the Reason for the Season! We have all been touched by an Angel & one you all know is named Naomi! Heaven has gained a very special Angel! Keep Christ In Christmas. Our mission is keeping alive the true meaning of CHRIST-mas, the birth of Jesus Christ; God’s gift to the world! Those remaining in loving memory of their Mother, Grandmother & Great Grandmother: Daughter: Victoria (Vicki) Walker Marshall, Jupiter, FL Sons: Philip “Fuzzy” Walker (Beth) Grovetown, GA & Michael Walker (Donna) Fort Mill, SC Grandchildren: Heather Bailey (Darren) Fort Mill, SC & Justin Walker, Fort Mill, SC; Lauren Dellinger (Dalton) Myrtle Beach, SC & Tiffany McCallum (Shane) Fort Mill, SC & Jason Tice (Breena) Harlem, GA Great Grandchildren: Emery Dellinger (3), Claire Tice (5) Tripp Bailey (6) & Trinity Caldwell (21) Naomi was at her happiest part of her life being with her Children & Grandchildren & taking care of them & especially all the holidays together. We all had a blast! Long-Time Best Friends from the beginning of their married lives from Belvedere & North Augusta, SC (All Like Family): Marilyn & Ray Kroger & Family; Dee & Bill Hartshorn & Family; Skeeter & Fred Manning & Family; Phyllis & Ken Stewart & Family (& Memories of the Masters with the Stewarts) Shirley & Edward Wilde & Family, Great Neighbors Jon Posey, Great Neighbor Always & Forever Jo Bessie & Joe Bickley & Family, Greatest Neighbors & are our long-time Special Church Family members, as lived right across the street & would visit & check on Naomi faithfully & look out her window to see when her lights went out in her bedroom, after Vince passed. Bless you! And Many Special Relatives from Columbia, SC: Father & Mother: Cornell Jackson Counts & Virginia Counts Sister: Ruby Federicci (Tommy); Brothers: Jack Counts (Jeannette); Bobby Counts (Joyce) & Johnny Spires. All are in Heaven awaiting their angelic sister, Naomi Walker. And many other relatives, cousins, nieces & nephews, etc. In Naomi’s Memory, please donate to any Animal Shelter, any Child in need, or Veterans, or any charity of your choice. Send a hand-written greeting card in her memory to anyone that could use a smile or a hug, as many are very lonely in all walks of life! “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else!” Thoughts of Naomi, if you admire a lighthouse. Jesus Covers Us With His Glory & Guides Us With His Light. Let The Light Shine & Protect. All of the family & children thank you for all your thoughts & prayers for our family & always caring & loving our precious mother. The Walker Family

Tributes

Naomi Counts Walker

March 1, 1930 - August 18, 2024