'There will never be another Charles Walker': Fort Pierce Highwaymen artist dies at 77
FORT PIERCE — Charles Walker is remembered as a man who had a burning passion for basketball, a gift for mentoring the community's youth and an endless love for his family.
The Fort Pierce native died of cancer 5:30 p.m. May 24 at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital.
Walker, 77, was one of the original 26 Highwaymen — a group of Black artists from Fort Pierce and the surrounding area, influenced by the work of landscape artist A.E. "Beanie" Backus, that painted vivid Florida landscape scenes in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
His artwork and impact on the local community has extended far beyond his hometown, friends and family members recall.
"He inspired so many," said one of Walker's best friends Sidney Jerger. "There will never be another Charles Walker. The community lost a special man."
Florida's Highwaymen
Kept out of white-owned galleries, the Highwaymen traveled State Road A1A and other Florida roads to sell their artwork out of their cars for as little as $20.
The group is estimated to have created more than 200,000 paintings over two decades.
Walker, who took the unconventional route of selling his art in person rather than roadside, was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004 alongside the other 25 Highwaymen.
He was also one of four Highwaymen interviewed in October for a locally produced documentary highlighting the group's history.
Less than half are still alive; fewer still, now in their 70s and 80s, continue painting.
An 'inspirational' artist
Walker, who had a studio in the downtown Arcade Building, specialized in wildlife paintings — inspired from childhood memories of hunting for turkeys and deer with his father in the backwoods of Fort Pierce and Okeechobee County.
His work also was influenced by his brother-in-law and fellow Highwaymen, Livingston Roberts, who died in 2004.
A Lincoln Park Academy alumnus, Walker won his first art contest is ninth grade and, like other Highwaymen, was a student in Zanobia Jefferson’s art class.
However, it wasn't until his early 20s that he launched his painting career.
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"I didn't even know Charles was an artist growing up," said Jerger, 61. "It wasn't until I was working at the Orange Blossom Mall in the early 80s when I walked past a beautiful painting in an art store window, and I saw his name on it."
Walker was a humble man who truly knew how to bring a canvas to life, he added.
For second-generation Highwaymen artist Jimmy Stovall, Walker was someone he admired and learned from.
"He taught me how to put more detail in my work," Stovall said. "I was always fascinated by his paintings."
Walker's legacy
Beyond art, Walker was committed to inspiring Fort Pierce youth, according to his high school sweetheart Gertrude Walker, now the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections.
He worked as a recreation supervisor at the Lincoln Park Community Center for 20 years, often mentoring kids through sports.
Nicknamed "The Hawk," Walker played pickup basketball games whenever opportunity struck, challenging friends and kids at the center to showcase his shooting guard skills, according to longtime friend and former state Rep. Larry Lee.
"He really tried to instill some integrity and work ethic in young folks," said friend and attorney Lorenzo Williams.
Jerger plans to gather signatures and petition St. Lucie County to name the community center after Walker.
"Charles was a self-taught artist. He was determined to be an artist from his childhood,” said Gertrude Walker. "But I think he would want his legacy to be that, regardless of how insignificant you may feel, everyone has worth and everyone has promise. He felt that way about every child he encountered."
Walker, who was described by many as a dedicated family-man, leaves behind four children and four grandchildren.
There will be a public viewing from 5 to 7 p.m. June 10 at Stone Brothers Funeral Home, 317 N. 7th St. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. June 11 at St Mark's Missionary Baptist Church, 921 Orange Ave.
In lieu of flowers, the Walker family is asking donations be made to the Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie or at www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-original-florida-highwaymen-build-museum for the construction of a Highwaymen museum.
Olivia McKelvey is TCPalm's watchdog reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach her at olivia.mckelvey@tcpalm.com, 772-521-4380 and on Twitter @olivia_mckelvey.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Highwaymen artist and Fort Pierce native Charles Walker, 77, dies
