Individual Details

Death

HEADLAND. . .Reverend J. Walker Epps, Jr., a resident of Headland, died early Tuesday evening, April 25, 2023, at his home. He was 73. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, April 29, 2023, in the First United Methodist Church of Dothan with Reverend Lynn Smilie Nesbitt and Reverend Tonya Elmore officiating. Visitation with the family and friends will follow the service in the church parlor. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions to First United Methodist Church “Respite Care Ministry”, 1380 West Main Street, Dothan, AL 3301 or to Gentiva Hospice, 2431 West Main Street, Suite 1102, Dothan, AL 36301. Reverend Walker Epps was reared in Headland, son of the late Julian Walker Epps, Sr. and Mary Ligon Solomon Epps. He was a 1967 graduate of Headland High School. Walker was a 1971 graduate of Birmingham Southern College where he received a BA in Religion and was selected for Omicron Delta Kappa. He was also a graduate of Boston University School of Theology with a Master of Divinity Degree. He served the following churches: Associate Pastor, Pensacola First United Methodist; Jay United Methodist Church; Chatom-Chalker Memorial United Methodist Church; Citronelle United Methodist Church; Cloverdale United Methodist Church, Dothan; Greensboro United Methodist Church; Mary Esther United Methodist Church; Andalusia First United Methodist Church and Enterprise First United Methodist Church. He also served as the Marianna Panama City District Superintendent and the Dothan District Superintendent. Walker formerly served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Birmingham Southern College. For four decades, he and his wife, Lynn, were leaders in the Emmaus Community. After retirement, Walker served on the board of the Respite Ministry of First United Methodist Church and as an active volunteer in the ministry. Walker was a member of the Progressors Sunday School Class of First United Methodist, where he was a beloved teacher. Walker was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lynn Thomas Epps, and a sister, Malinda Epps Morris. Surviving relatives include a daughter, Ellise Lynn Epps Ryan, Headland; a son, Micah Thomas Epps (Christina Furr Epps), Ft. Mill, SC; two grandchildren, Evelyn Athena Epps and Maxwell Grey Epps; a niece, Michele Morris, a sister-in-law, Patricia Ann Thomas, a brother-in-law, Paul Durand Thomas. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Progressors Sunday School Class and Clergy of the Alabama West Florida Annual Conference. The family would like to express their appreciation to Gentiva Hospice for the loving care and kindness shown to Walker during his illness.Reverend J. Walker Epps Jr., a resident of Headland, died early Tuesday evening, April 25, 2023, at his home. He was 73. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 29, 2023, in the First United Methodist Church of Dothan with Reverend Lynn Smilie Nesbitt and Reverend Tonya Elmore officiating. Visitation with the family and friends will follow the service in the church parlor. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions to First United Methodist Church "Respite Care Ministry", 1380 West Main Street, Dothan, AL 3301 or to Gentiva Hospice, 2431 West Main Street, Suite 1102, Dothan, AL 36301. Surviving relatives include a daughter, Ellise Lynn Epps Ryan, Headland; a son, Micah Thomas Epps (Christina Furr Epps), Ft. Mill, SC; two grandchildren, Evelyn Athena Epps and Maxwell Grey Epps; a niece, Michele Morris, a sister-in-law, Patricia Ann Thomas, a brother-in-law, Paul Durand Thomas. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
Dothan Eagle, April 27, 2023