James Ronald Walker (June 28, 1947 – June 2, 2022) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member for the 19th district of the Georgia State Senate.[1]

James Ronald Walker
Member of the Georgia State Senate from the 19th district
In office
1977–1984
Succeeded byWalter S. Ray
Personal details
Born(1947-06-28)June 28, 1947
Telfair County, Georgia, U.S.
DiedJune 2, 2022(2022-06-02) (aged 74)
Jeff Davis Hospital Hazlehurst, Georgia
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Carliss E. Cadwell[1]
Dianne Marchant[2]
Children2[1]
Alma materGeorgia Southwestern State University

Life and career

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Walker was born in Telfair County, Georgia, the son of Hilda White and James Wimbric Walker. He attended Georgia Southwestern State University.[1][2]

In 1977, Walker was elected to represent the 19th district of the Georgia State Senate.[1] He served until 1984, when he was succeeded by Walter S. Ray.[3] He was sheriff of Telfair County, Georgia,[2][4] where he served from 1985 until December 31, 1992.[5]

Walker was suspected of part owning a cockfighting gambling enterprise and of accepting bribes from cocaine dealers and other criminal.[5] In 1994 Walker was found guilty of conspiring to manufacture, possess and distribute marijuana and was sentenced to serve ten years in prison.[6][7]

Walker was married to Carliss Walker. They had two children and later divorced. Walker died in June 2022, at the age of 74 and was survived by his wife Dianne Marchant Walker, 2 children and 2 step children.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Georgia Official and Statistical Register: 1981-1982" (PDF). Georgia General Assembly. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "James Ronald Walker". Tribute Archive. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "1984 Georgia State Senate Results", Georgia General Assembly
  4. ^ "GBI agent has wreck, facing charge of DUI". The Macon Telegraph. Macon, Georgia. May 9, 1989. p. 15. Retrieved December 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ a b "GBI: 4 killed in crash were investigating ex-Telfair sheriff". The Atlanta Constitution. 19 August 1993. p. 34. Retrieved 12 January 2023. 
  6. ^ "FBI: Coffee County sheriff grew marijuana on his own land". The Macon Telegraph. 5 October 2000. p. 6. Retrieved 12 January 2023. 
  7. ^ "Sheriff pleads guilty to taking cut of pot growers' profits". Ledger-Enquirer. 8 December 1993. p. 8. Retrieved 12 January 2023.