2022 Black Heritage Calendar - Presented by the Black Educators' Caucus Inc., of Hernando County

Naomi Walker & Clarence Walker
1927-2017 1928-1986
Naomi Barnett-Walker was a native of Aberdeen, North Carolina, and a 1945
graduate of Southern Pine High School in Southern Pine, North Carolina. Upon
receiving her bachelor's degree from Teachers College (Fayetteville State
University) in Fayetteville, North Carolina, she later earned a master’s of
education degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and one
in education specialist with certification in supervision .
She met and married Clarence Willie Walker from Keysville, Georgia, a
Korean War Veteran. She spent her career as an early childhood teacher; and
she advised Clarence to use the G. I. Bill to pursue a degree in agriculture at
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and a master’s of education. In
1958, Clarence was offered the agriculture instructor job at Moton High School to
replace John Floyd, Sr., who had been recently promoted to principal. They took
the offer on a promise that there would be an opening for Naomi the next year.
The promise was kept and after a year of being separated, with Clarence in Brooksville,
Naomi completed the school year and she and their two young daughters relocated from
Tallahassee and joined him permanently for the 1959-1960 school term. She joined the
staff in 1959. They arrived in their early 30s and never looked back at Tallahassee. North
Carolina or Keysville. They invested their lives into making Brooksville a better place, becoming
the quintessential role model couple.
They were partners not only as educators, but as members of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, Frederick Kelly Elk
Lodge 1270, Kelly Temple 1004 and many other organizations. Naomi was a founding member of the Black Educators'
Caucus, Inc., of Hernando County, and she also helped launch the South Brooksville Community Sheriff Substation. In 1980,
Clarence became the first African American in Hernando County since Reconstruction to run for County Commissioner with
Naomi as his treasurer. They were the only husband and wife team on the Moton High School staff who became charter
members of the Brooksville Branch NAACP in 1966. Naomi was the only female member of the staff to become a charter
member. They were excellent teachers who were known for their generosity. They gave their pastor, Reverend, Alex
Harper, Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church a car which assisted him in earning a degree from Florida Memorial College in
Saint Augustine. Naomi was also a member of Moton High School 50th Anniversary Celebration 1939-1989 Steering
Committee.
The Walkers are the parents of three children Germaine Walker, Carlete Ingrid Brown and Marcel Walker. A plaque was
placed on the Mid-Community Services office wall on School Street in their honor by their family.
Sponsors: Frederick Kelly Elk Lodge 1270 & Kelly Temple 1004
“Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the
opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.” ― Dorothy Height