Babylon
Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer recently joined with Deputy Supervisor Tony
Martinez and Councilwoman Jackie Gordon at a ceremonial street renaming
ceremony in honor of the late Bishop Reverend William Howard Walker, Sr. Bishop
Walker was the founder of the Amityville Full Gospel Tabernacle, where he
served as the Bishop and Overseer up until his death in 2008.
Walker was
born to the late Henry and Ruth Walker in Corona, New York on April 25th,
1930. After graduating from Jamaica High School in 1947, he enlisted and served
in the United States Air Force and received an honorable discharge in 1952 as a
Sergeant. In 1957, Walker attended and graduated from Bethel Bible Institute,
and four years later, under the direction of Bishop Roderick R. Caesar, he was
installed as the permanent Pastor of Amityville Gospel Tabernacle. In 1971, Walker’s
brother-in-law William Johnson spearheaded the construction of a new building
that would later be incorporated as Amityville Full Gospel Tabernacle.
After 37
years of ministry, Walker was elevated to the office of Bishop and was
consecrated on March 28, 1998. His influence was extended to many churches
locally, across the country, and internationally. According to those close to
him, he lived a life of integrity and was known as a “powerful man of God,” who
was humble but fearless and whose passion was always to reach the lost and
stand in the gap as a mighty intercessor.
At the
April 12, 2017 Babylon Town Board Meeting, the Town Council passed Resolution
No. 319, authorizing the ceremonious changing of the name of the corner of
Brefni Street and Geraldine Avenue in Amityville to “Bishop Reverend William
Howard Walker, Sr. Corner.” In late June, dozens of friends, family, and
members of the congregation joined together at this street corner to celebrate
Bishop Walker’s life as the new street sign was unveiled.
Pictured
with friends, family, and members of the Amityville Full Gospel Tabernacle are
Supervisor Schaffer, Deputy Supervisor Martinez, Councilwoman Gordon, New York
State Senator John Brooks, New York State Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre,
and Suffolk County Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory.