Genevieve James Walker

GENEVIEVE JAMES was born on 19 Sep 1900 at *Red Store, near Boyce, Rapides Parish, Louisiana to William Calvit James and Ella Elizabeth Robinson. She was born in her parents' home, "Eagle's Nest."

Genevieve's childhood home, Eagle's Nest, near Boyce, Louisiana

Sammye and Pat Carlyon (Genevieve's sister Berenice's children) around the back of Eagle's Nest

Genevieve on the porch

Young Genevieve

Young Genevieve on hillside

Genevieve on bank

Genevieve on car

Genevieve (on left) with friend, Bobbie

Morgan and Genevieve Walker

Genevieve James Walker

Genevieve, in her home, helping her daughter "Teency" (Genevieve Walker) on her wedding day, 1953

Adjusting Annis' veil, 1958

Genevieve on her"prized stud" champion show horse, "Rex Sensation"

Genevieve in front of stables at the Horseshoe Drive house, Alexandria, Louisiana

Riding Rex Sensation

Genevieve on horse

Winner's Circle

Genevieve (right) and her friend, "Ms. Smith (wife of Joe D. Smith)" at a Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) event

Morgan and Genevieve, later in life

Genevieve passed away on March 8, 1960 in Alexandria.

Transcription of Genevieve James Walker's obituary in the Pineville News, 10 March 1960
"Final Rites Held for Mrs. Walker

Funeral services for Mrs. Morgan W. Walker, 57, wife of the president of Continental Southern Bus Lines, were held at 3 pm Wednesday at St. James Episcopal church with burial in Greenwood Memorial Park.

Mrs. Walker died at her home Tuesday afternoon after a lengthy illness. Mrs. Walker was the former Genevieve James, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Calvit James of Bayou Rapides, members of a pioneer Rapides parish family. She had been active in church affairs, and in the work of the DAR, and was a member of the JT Charnley chapter, Order of Eastern Star.

In addition to her husband, who is president of the Rapides parish school board and active in civic affairs, she is survived by two sons, Morgan W. Jr., and Edgar, both of Alexandria; four daughters, Mrs. EC Hall, Jr., of Sumter, SC, Mrs. James H. Galloway and Mrs. Borron J. Owen of Alexandria and Mrs. Jeff J. Horn of Cheneyville; two brothers, Fielding and DeWitt James, Boyce; four sisters, Mrs. Berenice Carlyon, Mrs. Alice Daigre and Mrs. Lula Mae Hickman, Boyce, and Mrs. Aza Cooper, Alexandria; and 15 grandchildren."

Remembrances of Genevieve's youngest child, Annis, taken from "Living Out on the Horseshoe," a cookbook and memoir of sorts compiled by Annis' daughter, Georgia.

"My mother was born on September 19th, 1900 in Boyce, Louisiana. She was the youngest of 14 children and was raised on the home place called 'Eagle's Nest.' Even as a child, she was known for her horsemanship.

She met my father when she was about 21 years old. Daddy had started a taxi service . . . He later obtained a bus and founded the Interurban Transportation Company. His first bus route was from Alexandria to Boyce. My mother rode his bus back and forth to town.

Her brothers and sisters were less than enthusiastic about their relationship. He was quite a few years older, balding and an amputee. They used to say, 'Genevieve is going to marry that bald-headed, one-legged old man that will never amount to a hill of beans.'

Genevieve's mother had suffered a stroke prior to their meeting and was bedridden. Mama never introduced Daddy to her in order to protect her dignity. She died in February of 1922. My parents (Morgan and Genevieve) married in September of that same year.

Mama raised every animal known to man. She had these Belgian Shepherd dogs that were show dogs. Sometimes they would start barking at night. I would hear Mama get up and go over to the window. The old wooden sill would clatter as she flung it up and yelled 'Heerrruggghhh!' Those dogs would shut up.

One time she got these monkeys from a man that wanted to get rid of them. The biggest one's name was Mike. He was mean as he could be, but Mama wasn't afraid of the devil.

One day, Bessie (the cook) closed herself up in the wash house, yelling. We realized that Mike (the monkey) had gotten out and was walking around the yard. As he passed Mama's Boston Terrier, Bing (below), he just scooped him up under his arm. After a while, he put the dog down and climbed up in one of the pecan trees. Everyone was terrified except for Mama. She went out there and commanded that monkey to come down and get in his cage. And he did! Mama could do anything."



Neal's Memory: Mama always said that Grandmother drove a pickup truck because "she never knew when she might have to haul something."

The Alexandria Garden Club Year Book 1937-1938, Charter Members, lists Genevieve's name here.

A transcription of the cemetery records of James-Henderson (Henderson Hill) Cemetery, near Red Store, (where many of Genevieve's ancestors are buried) can be found here.

*Red Store is the area surrounding a store (or which once surrounded a store) in Boyce, Louisiana

Everyone, please post any corrections or stories you remember hearing about Grandmother here, too. Thank you!