Florice Ercell Walker

Celebration of Life Gathering will  be held Tuesday, January 19, 2016, 1:00 PM, Rose City Cemetery & Funeral Home, 5625 NE Fremont St. Portland, Oregon

Florice Ercell Walker was born December 11, 1948 in Portland, Oregon to Wilson C and Carmen P. Walker. She was the oldest sibling of three.

She attended Grant High School and was on the speech team. She travelled to North Western College where she won several speech events. Florice obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Linfield College in Home Economics and Basic Teaching Certificate. She furthered her education by obtaining her Master’s Degree from University of Oregon in Public Affairs and Administration. Florice  E. Walker was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporation.

Florice E. Walker married William L. Twitty on May 23, 1987 in Portland at Allen Temple CME church. They later were divorced.

Florice received a vast array of associations and achievements. Just to name a few they were from

Portland Association of Teachers, Representative for Head Start Teachers.

Tri-Met Board of Directors

Oil Industry Labor Council, Mobil Oil representative

National Association of Black School Educator, National Convention Speaker

Quality Improvement Team Facilitator, Juran Institute certified

Performance Management Trainer North American Research and Training Institute certified

National NAACP Convention Planning Committee and staff volunteer

Black Community Leader of the 1980’s, Northwest Conference of Black Public Officials

Urban League Education Committee, taught SAT preparation classes and co-wrote “Black Potential” publication (employment aid for recent college graduation)

Oregon’s Outstanding Young Women of the Year .

Florice was a long time member of Allen Temple CME Church and served on the Board of Christian Education, Building Committee and Social Concerns Commission.

Florice distinguished herself with Mobil Oil Corporation from 1979 – 1993. She began in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania as Employee Relations Advisor. In Fairfax, Virginia she served as Senior Staff Assistant. Transitioning to Schaumberg, Illinois she was in a debate with the Vice President for Employee Relations for the U.S Division, he then promoted her to Manager of Career Development and Staff Services.

In Chicago, Illinois as Manager in Field Services, traveling 80% of the time her main job was to deliver employee relations services to 32 field units in an 8 state area. Successfully negotiated 11 labor contracts (Teamster, OCAN and Independents)

Florice was the first female Manager for Labor Relations in Paulsboro, New Jersey. Her position was to change the disruptive organizational climate. Managed labor activities, led contract negotiation preparation and participated on the negotiation team.

Florice retired from Mobil Oil in 1994 and moved to Portland in May 1995.

Florice precedes her parents Wilson Calvin Walker and Carmen Parrish Walker. She is survived by her sister, Laodice Walker Tonkins, her brother Wilson Parrish Walker, his wife Barbara O’Hare Walker. To cherish her memory she also leaves nieces and nephew: LaShante’ Marie Tonkins, Justin Parrish Tonkins, Nicole Carmen Tonkins, Tasha Makana Walker, Wilson Adam Walker. Great nieces and nephews: Aajanai Marie Glover, Aniyah Cheri Glover, Assata Amirah Campbell, Jaxson Edward Parrish Tonkins, Aaliyah Kehlani- Sky Tonkins, Josiah Parrish Lambert, Amiayah Annette Lambert. Cousins: Dr. Cheryln Parrish Mitchell, Darrell Johnson Bakeman, Yolanda Parrish, Lisa Mitchell- Manning, Monica Johnson, Cesanee Johnson, Dr. Blaine Mitchel,  Kyle Mitchell, Grover and Wanda Haynes, Audrey Haynes, Toni Haynes, Robert “Staple” and Malver Haynes, as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Florice Ercell Walker departed this life on January 7, 2016. She is physically gone from this earth, but she lives on in the hearts of many whose lives she touched.