‘Corona convoy’ honors Walker’s 100th
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Hattie Bishop Walker, center, soaks in all the special wishes for her 100th birthday on Aug. 27. Family members Bobbie Shrubbs, left, Ella Louise Rayford and Ruby Nash make Walker feel special as family and friends parade past in a “corona” convoy. (Courtesy Photo)
Special to The Sun—
WELLINGTON — Waves, car horns and well wishes filled the air as Hattie Walker celebrated her 100th birthday Aug. 27.
Walker’s family hosted a “Drive by Honk and Wave” parade at 7:30 p.m. Family and friends lined up on the east side of the WAC on Corsicana Stree. for the “corona” caravan to Galveston Street.
“It was a very exciting event,” said Walker’s only child, Ella Louise Rayford who lives with Walker and takes care of her.
Walker was born Aug. 27, 1920, in Arthur City near Paris, Texas, to Bennie and Agnes Bishop. At the age of four, she traveled with her parents to Wellington from Arthur City on a “cotton pick.” They never went back.
Walker is the oldest of eight siblings – five girls and three boys. She has two sisters still living, Bobbie Shrubs and Ruby Nash, who both live in Wellington.
She recalls many trips walking down the railroad tracks with her sister Ruth Ann from the Eldon Lockhart farm to get to school.
A domestic worker, Walker has been employed by four prominent families of Collingsworth County through the years, the Dukeminier, Hill, Doneghy and Sherman families.
Singing is one of her passions. Walker and her sisters, better known as the “Bishop Sisters,” sang for different organizations in the county and often at Wellington Care Center. They traveled to many church singing events all over Texas and Oklahoma.
Walker has made Bowie Street Church of Christ her Christian home. She said she appreciates all who took the time to help make her 100th birthday so special.
