By Nathan Straus
nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Jacksonville and its police force were thanked Thursday afternoon for their hard work by Ozell Walker, an East Texas author.
Walker presented a selection of her poetry and plaques to a gathered crowd of city and Jacksonville Police Department officials at the police station.
Walker, who has written a book of poems and poetry and an autobiography, said she and her husband J.C. have never had a problem with people breaking into their homes.
“They were always there for us,” Walker said. “Look at how the mayor’s got Jacksonville nice and clean. If you want to change your place of living, move to Jacksonville.”
Jacksonville Mayor Robert Haberle said he believes Walker is the first published female African-American author in Cherokee County.
“We’re glad she’s in Jacksonville,” Haberle said. “Our community has welcomed her and accepted her.”
John Page, assistant police chief, said he thought it was very sweet of her to come out as a citizen and recognize the city and the police force.
“I think it has more significance,” he said. “It comes from her heart.”
Originally from Dallas, Walker moved to Jacksonville exactly six years ago as of Thursday. She said she was celebrating her sixth anniversary of living in the city.
“The mayor and the chief have welcomed me with open arms and made a big difference in my life,” Walker said. “This is the best place I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Her poetry and poems book, which she calls “Pometry”, has been published. Her autobiography, “How Past Pain Can Become Eternal Gain”, is slated for a Jan. 10 release date.
Walker said when she was raised, she was told her mother was her sister. It was only at her grandmother’s deathbed she learned the person she thought was her sister was actually her mother, and her mother never wanted a daughter.
According to Walker, extensive arm surgeries left her unable to work. She and her husband were forced to sell their house in Dallas, which was valued at over $100,000, and move to Jacksonville.
Through it all, Walker said, God blessed her and turned her into the person she wanted to be.
