His Legacy - His Way
Stephen Brandon Walker was born on July 28, 1944 in Washington, DC. He was educated in DC public schools and graduated from the historic Spingarn High School, class of 1961. In addition to his mother and father, Stephen was adored by his grandmother, Matilda Walker, who helped rear him in the church, and his stepfather, world-renowned Jazz musician, Buck Hill, known in DC as “The Wailing Mailman”. Grandma Tillie, as she was known, was extremely proud that he was the 4th generation Walker born in the District of Columbia!!
Being a bit of a mischievous child, his mother would often make him read the Encyclopedia as his “punishment”. So, if you EVER had a conversation with him, asked him how to convert a measurement, how to replace an ingredient in a recipe, or how many ridges are on the outside of a dime, you personally witnessed the results of that punishment. (You’re welcome!)
After graduating from high school, Stephen attended Howard University in the Electrical Engineering program, while working part-time as a mechanic’s assistant at the Exxon on Division Avenue, NE. Since he was educated via the encyclopedia, and was just a naturally smart guy, he did what most could not do as a student – didn’t attend a lot of classes, but passed every test with an “A”. Stephen also worked at Pepco for several years during the mid 1960’s.
Growing up in DC, he loved baseball and football and ran track. He grew up right behind Griffith Stadium and caught a few baseballs when live games were happening. He was a “home team” fan – cheering for the Senators, Bullets, and his beloved Redskins. If you ever visited his man cave in Laurel, you really got to see his love for the ‘Skins! The single exception was his love for the NY Yankees – and if you wanted to try and argue him down as to why, good luck!
During the late 1960’s Stephen began driving a cab. He knew DC like he knew his name and could tell anyone how to get anywhere in the city. He had the “gift of gab” and was comical in his delivery, which was also usually filled with colorful language!
One afternoon in July of 1971, while driving a cab and picking up/dropping off passengers at the Mayflower hotel on Connecticut Avenue, NW, he saw a young lady walking into the Bender Building across the street. He asked his friend, who happened to be one of her co-workers known as “Space Chick” who she was. When she told him, he asked her to let the lady know he wanted to give her a ride home in his cab. After completely disagreeing to do so because of his bright patterned golf pants and huge butterfly collar shirt, she reluctantly accepted, and became his wife in 1974. Her name was Ruta Alexis Doster. From their marriage was born a daughter, named after him – Stefanie Brandon “Brandy” Walker. Stephen also had two other children from previous marriages – Keith Dwayne Walker (b.1966) and Yvette Gwendolyn Walker (b.1972).
Being the oldest of 7, Stephen was a proud big brother. He also was a proud brother-in-law, son-in-law and uncle. He was an AMAZING cook and hot sauce/hot pepper connoisseur. His cooking was well known among family and friends, and he could rival today’s “top chef” easily. The hot sauces he ate and made from scratch, would set the average person on fire. Anything hot that he made required a warning label for public consumption – including his barbecue sauces – even when he would proclaim, “I didn’t make it hot this time.” (You were taking your chances!!) Legend has it that he went to dinner one evening at a local Laurel restaurant and ordered their potato salad. Once tasted, he proceeded to verbally document the ingredients in it. But that wasn’t enough! He went home and recreated it – turning it into his own “Redskin Potato Salad”, per the legend. He made award winning tuna fish, cabbage and neckbones, breakfasts’ with scrapple, bacon, sausage, pancakes, eggs and grits, fried chicken and seafood – including shrimp, fish, oysters, clams and steaming Maryland blue crabs!
He could fix almost anything – cars, drywall, woodwork, paneling, toilets, wiring, water pumps – ANYTHING! He was also a great resource for elementary, middle school and high school science fair projects (...there is that Encyclopedia benefit again!)
Stephen had an incredible love for animals. Growing up he had dogs and cats – Lassie was his childhood dog. He even taught his cat how to turn off the light switch in his bedroom! This love for animals continued his whole life – there were fish, birds, more dogs and more cats, and even a hamster named Cutie, who used to crawl out of his cage at night, into the kitchen where he was eating a late-night snack, up his pants leg and into his lap.
In the 1980’s, he decided to turn his expert driving into a business and started Dr. Wheels Limousine Service. He operated this business for over 20 years, driving both limos and sedans for corporate business owners and dignitaries – from Dulles to BWI and as far as New York/New Jersey. He drove celebrities too – often getting autographs and telling THEM about his thoughts on their acting, shows, and movies. He loved driving and shared stories with his clients along the way (…and there is that gift of gab again!)
Over the years and following his retirement from driving, he spent his time learning how to use computers. He was a self-taught computer geek and proud of it - long before YouTube was even a thought. He networked his own computers and printers and often colorfully discussed with his mother, and anyone else who would listen, the best way to run computer programs, print with the best printer, connect to the internet the fastest, download the latest software and whatever else was the latest and greatest in technology and gadgets.
Quietly, and in his own way, Stephen slipped into eternal rest on Sunday, August 27, 2023. He lives on in the heart of those who loved him and whom he loved.