SEEKING TRIUMPH AMID TRAGEDY

'Columbus, Georgia, I Am Here to Tell You God's Up to Something'

From the pulpit of a packed church, the Rev. Daryl Stover summed up
the death of his friend Kenneth B. Walker in one sentence.

"Columbus, Georgia," the Decatur minister said, pausing, "I am here to
tell you God's up to something."

Filled with emotion and pain, Stover and hundreds of others came to
St. Mary's Road United Methodist Church on Tuesday afternoon to
celebrate Walker's life and question the circumstances of his death.

Walker, 39, was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy a week ago. The
details of the shooting are still under investigation.

During the services Tuesday, Walker was described as a devoted
husband, father and son; respected in his church; a 15-year employee
of Blue Cross and Blue Shield; a Kendrick High School basketball star;
and a dedicated brother of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Many of those present at the funeral were middle class professionals.
Some wore ID badges from Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Others waved
their hands as the choir sung songs asking God to order their steps
and tell their hearts what he wants them to do. All were hurting.

The usher board, which Walker used to serve on, walked around the
church passing out tissues and consoling grieving family members.

A number of elected officials and city leaders attended the funeral.
The people in the crowded church included U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop,
Superior Court Judge John Allen, state Sen. Ed Harbison, state Rep.
Calvin Smyre, Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff, City Manager Carmen
Cavezza, and Columbus councilors Nathan Suber, Evelyn Pugh, Julius
Hunter, Jack Rodgers and Glenn Davis.

The Rev. Douglas Force, pastor of Walker's home church St. Mary's Road
United Methodist, called Walker "a gem of a human being."

Force spoke briefly before the eulogist came to the pulpit, telling
the congregation even though they are feeling "tired and slaughtered,"
it's time to be "ambassadors of peace." He also shared an experience
where he felt racially profiled by Columbus law enforcement.

"Every stop may be our last. There are too many people in this country
who don't understand that," Force said. "It's time we stop living in
denial. It's time to start holding folks accountable for their position."

John Wilson shared memories of his friend Walker while showing no
shame in his tears. He said Walker was not a typical only child, but
the exact opposite -- "self sacrificing."

"We can't make sense out of senselessness," Wilson
said.

There was laughter through the tears as Varrick McIntosh, a childhood
neighbor, shared stories of him and Walker growing up. He told the
congregation of their using their Cub Scout training to make a fire in
the forest Saturday mornings to cook bacon and hotdogs, or exercising
the night before Christmas so they would be able to sleep through the
night.

Walker's 3-year-old daughter, Kayla, was not present. His wife,
Cheryl, and mother, Emily, were comforted by family members.

Stover, who grew up in Columbus, delivered the eulogy. He said it was
a tragic event that led to hundreds of mourners filing in that church
Tuesday, but encouraged them to "triumph over tragedy."

"God has not left Kayla. God has not left Cheryl," Stover said. "He is
going to give you double for your trouble."

Stover looked at "Mother Walker."

"You don't have one son, you have many sons," he said.

At that time, those who were members of the Omega fraternity stood and
clapped.

Stover said even though there is a lot of confusion as to why Walker
died, the big picture is Walker now has a higher purpose.

"That night a regular man become a soldier in the army of God," Stover
said. "I have the last word over a good soldier."