William P. "Billy" Walker

William “Billy” Paul Walker, Jr. LEXINGTON – William “Billy” Paul Walker, Jr., 77, passed away peacefully with his beloved wife and children at his bedside on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Billy was born on June 14, 1947 in Binghamton, NY, the oldest of four sons born to William “Bill” P. Walker, Sr. and Mabel Isaac Walker. At a young age, Billy moved with his family to his mother’s hometown, Georgetown, SC, where he spent an idyllic childhood surrounded by his three brothers, Tommy, Cary and Robert, and a host of Isaac, Turbeville, and Cantwell cousins. Billy graduated from Winyah High School in Georgetown in 1965. He then enrolled in Newberry College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1969. At Newberry, Billy played on the basketball team and formed many lifelong friendships and a love for the College that would last his entire life. Throughout his life, Billy spent countless hours advocating for, serving and championing Newberry College. 

Billy served as the President of the Newberry College Athletic Club and Chairman of the Newberry College Fund. He became a member of the Board of Trustees in 1994. In 1998 he was elected to serve as Chairman of the Board, a position he held for the next fourteen years. There was nothing Billy would not do for his alma mater and its students. To generations of students, he was a beloved and revered figure on campus. He loved attending and watching all Newberry sporting events. He supported and mentored countless students in their college journeys. In February 2012, Newberry honored Billy by naming a new state-of-the-art dormitory in his honor. It is known as Walker Hall. In 2013, Billy was the recipient of the Thomas A. Epting Outstanding Alumnus Award in grateful recognition of his leadership, service and loyalty to Newberry College.

In 1970, Billy enrolled in law school at the University of South Carolina School of Law. A member of the South Carolina Bar since 1973, Billy represented clients in well over 200 jury trials. Over the course of his storied, 50-year career, he developed, and often expressed, a devout passion for obtaining justice for his clients This was undoubtedly his life’s greatest purpose. Over the course of his career, Billy practiced law with his longtime partner, Kirk Morgan, retired Judge L. Casey Manning and Murry Kinard, and later with his son, Will, in Lexington at Walker Law, LLC. Billy was known as a passionate and formidable opponent who never backed down from the fight. He was a legendary trial lawyer in the old school sense—a force of nature who lived by the motto ‘Illegitimi non carborundum’. Along the way, he mentored many young lawyers and made great friends and colleagues across the country.

Billy was a longtime member of numerous legal organizations and societies, most notably, a member of the prestigious Melvin Belli Society, where he frequently lectured at their annual seminar, as well as a charter member of the TAOS Group, a select group of trial lawyers with one firm from each state invited. In 2009, Billy was the recipient of the Southern Trial Lawyers Association “Tommy Malone Great American Eagle Award.” This award recognizes a lawyer “who has a calling to help others and is a powerful example of the bold pursuit of excellence and justice.” Billy also received many other legal accolades and honors during his lengthy career.

Above all and until the end, Billy was funny as hell. Billy never failed to turn any situation into a great moment by bringing lightness and laughter with his boisterous sense of humor. Billy loved people, loved life, and loved his family to the absolute fullest. With his larger-than-life personality, Billy made new friends everywhere he went. He would do anything for his friends. He had a generosity of spirit that embraced all that he met. He loved giving people a chance. The shirt off his back was never his to begin with, it was always theirs. That’s how he lived his life.

Billy was predeceased by his parents and brothers, Tommy and Robert Walker, and is survived by his brother, Cary Walker. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Amelia Long Walker of Lexington; his son, William “Will” Paul Walker III (Amelia Waring Walker) of Columbia; and his daughter, Elizabeth “Bette” Walker Bohler (Blake Bohler) of Charleston; and five grandchildren, Margaret “Daisy” Calhoun Simonds Walker, William “Billy” Paul Walker IV, Isaac Livingston Bohler, Elle Frances Bohler and Louisa Lawrence Walker.

A funeral service will be held at Wiles Chapel on the campus of Newberry College on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 3:00 p.m., with services conducted by The Reverend Ernie Worman. A reception will immediately follow the service at Founders Building also on the campus of Newberry College.