Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalms 116:15

Wednesday morning, July 6, 2022, shortly after 5:30 a.m., the Lord summonsed one of His earthly angels home to be one of His heavenly angels. Laverne Freeman Walker was and is that angel. Laverne was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, to the late Mrs. Ellen Johnson Freeman and the late Mr. Luther W. Freeman on February 1, 1963. She attended Woodrow Wilson High School where she received her diploma in night school. Laverne met Ernest M. Walker in 1985 and they married on August 16, 1986, in Portsmouth, VA. Their union produced three sons Garelle, Jermaine, and Jerod. Laverne was ever so proud of her young men to include her three grandsons Tyshaun, Jahshaun, and Joseph. At a very young age Laverne had a strong work ethic. Her first job was at 7-11. She loved to drive which prompted her to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), and soon thereafter she became a bus driver for Tidewater Regional Transit (now Hampton Roads Transit (HRT)), a private school bus service and various other transportation companies. When possible, she took her sons on the bus with her. Youngest son, Jerod, especially enjoyed attending the Naval Air Station Oceana air shows. During the past year she, her husband Ernest and their son Jermaine became caregivers for her brother Willie, who now resides in their home. The year 1998 was very impactful for Laverne because she became a dialysis patient and endured many health trials and tribulations for over 24 years until her passing. Her endurance strengthened her love, faith, and belief and in 1998 she accepted her calling by God to become an Evangelist; during that time, she was a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Norfolk, VA. In 2012, The House of Prayer Portsmouth Ministry (The HOPP) was started in the living room of Laverne and Ernest. Laverne was the church secretary for over a decade. Laverne was affectionately called “Big Mama” and will be deeply missed. Laverne loved to cook and bake. Middle son, Jermaine, now loves to cook because he was her sous-chef and assisted her regularly in the kitchen. No family event was ever complete until she arrived with her big smile that would light up the room and her homemade macaroni and cheese in hand, which was sometimes late in arriving, but always a hit and very well received. Laverne completed a baking class and when she was feeling up to it she would bake and decorate sheet cakes. Laverne and Ernest loved their three sons and took great pride in hosting separate birthday parties for them for many years even though their birthdates were fairly close together. Oldest son, Garelle, noted, “My mom loved to celebrate our birthdays. I always looked forward to my red, white and blue 4th of July birthday party with one of my mom’s delicious home baked sheet cakes.” Laverne loved the color lavender, sundresses, flip flops, take-out food, and watching the Young and the Restless and Wheel of Fortune. Laverne loved people and would strike up a conversation on a wide variety of subjects. She was a member of the GloWalk Sisterhood founded by her late mother-in-law Mrs. Gloria Mae Benton Walker in May 2008. Membership is by invitation only. When Laverne’s health permitted, she would attend the annual fall meeting in October with about 50 “sistas”, 28-97 years old, from all walks of life, and while adorned in yellow, light blue, or purple matching polo shirts. Laverne especially liked the laughter, fun and life experiences shared in group sessions and participating in community service projects. Laverne was preceded in death by her parents and four siblings. She leaves to cherish her memories her husband of 36 years, Ernest M. Walker; sons: Garelle Walker, Deacon Jermaine Walker, and Jerod Walker (Sandra) of Portsmouth, VA; grandsons: Tyshaun Walker, Jahshaun Sawyer, and Joseph Riddick of Portsmouth, VA; brother: Willie E. Freeman of Portsmouth, VA; sister: Jacqueline Freeman Jones (Pastor Lonnell N. Jones) of Norfolk, VA; father-in-law: Willie O. Walker, Sr. of Portsmouth, VA; uncles: Henry Johnson Freeman and Herley (Barbara) Johnson of Portsmouth, VA; aunts: Geraldine Parker Scott and Dolly Boone of Portsmouth, VA; nephews, nieces, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and a host of cousins and friends.