Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Shameka Walker.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I met Dr. Samuel Walker during a very difficult but optimistic time in my life. I had just been promoted by a large retail company as a Department Manager, which also opened the door for me to leave an extremely three years abusive relationship. This job transfer moved me from Rhode Island to Connecticut. My first Sunday in town, I walked into Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Hartford, CT and he was up conducting service that morning. We instantly felt a connection so he spent most of the service trying not to make eye contact with me. After service, I shook his hand and told him, “God has a plan for you and you will be back to Connecticut soon.” The next day he left for a six months deployment with the US Navy.
A few months passed and I asked a mutual friend if she knew what happened to the handsome gentlemen up speaking the Sunday morning that I came to church? She proceeded to tell me that he was stationed in San Diego, CA but still on his deployment. I asked her to give him my number and let him know that I am praying for him. After he received my number, he immediately called from Australia. We talked daily until he returned to Connecticut in December 1999.
Our relationship became official Dec. 24, 1999, I met his family on Christmas 1999, he proposed New Year’s 2000, & we got married in a sunset wedding on Valentine’s Day 2000 in San Diego, CA. Shortly after marriage, we became pregnant with our first child and gave birth to Jada Renee Walker on Christmas 2000.
My husband’s military career required us to move to various states. After leaving San Diego, we moved to Norfolk, VA December 2001 for six years. In Virginia, I was able to transition from Retail Management to the spectacular world of Finance. While in Virginia we purchased our first home and took a leap of faith and became foster parents. We were in our late 20s when we took on the challenge of parenting therapeutic teens. That experience was life-changing in many ways but most importantly, it helped us to mature into loving parents.
In June 2007, we relocated to Charleston, SC. During our stay in South Carolina, I was promoted to Branch Manager for a major Finance Company. Surprisingly, I found out I was pregnant with our first son Jamal Xavier Walker whom I, unfortunately, gave birth to in our home bathroom on December 8, 2009. I wish that experience on no one. Six months later, I suffered another loss of Sanaa Jenee Walker due to an ectopic pregnancy after IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) treatment. I am thankful for my relationship with God and being able to take all my problems and disappointments to him in prayer. Without a relationship with God and knowing that he wouldn’t take me through more than I can bare, I would have lost my mind.
After three years in South Carolina God moved us to Tuscaloosa, AL while my husband had to serve a year overseas in Diego Garcia. We only stayed in Alabama for 18 months before transferring to Atlanta, GA. My husband was anticipating to be in the Naval Officer Chaplain Candidate Program but was given an Honorable Discharged due to medical reasons. He continued with his military career in the inactive reserve for another six years before he was no longer able to reenlist. To prevent my husband from suffering from depression, I encouraged him to seek God for what direction he wanted us to go in as a family. Through prayer and fasting Jubilee Deliverance Ministry Church of God in Christ (COGIC) was born.
Jubilee Deliverance Ministry COGIC had our first service on April 1, 2012 in the conference room of a local hotel in Canton, GA. Now 11 years later, our ministry survived the pandemic and started to see an increase in membership. Since starting the ministry, we have added to our family. We suffered another heartache On February 3, 2014 when we lost our twins, Prince Michael Walker & Paris Michelle Walker after IVF (In vitro fertilization) treatment. Through our pain, God blessed us with our rainbow babies Juliana Amelia Walker on December 9, 2014 and Shamar Isaiah Walker on May 21, 2017. Since then we have suffered 2 miscarriages of Carlisa Rae Walker on September 5, 2020 & Madeline Grace Walker on January 10, 2022. Recently we implanted two more embryos on April 26, 2023 but neither of them progressed into a pregnancy. We continue to trust God’s plans for our family.
Over the last 23 years of marriage, Dr. Samuel Walker & I have accomplished so much together. Currently, we have 12 degrees between the two of us. Our degrees are the following…
Dr. Shameka Walker
– Doctorate of Literature
– Master of Business Administration in Management
– Bachelor of Science in Marketing
– With Psychology Minor
– Associate in Science in Marketing
– Diploma as Personal Trainer
– Diploma as The Professional Financial Planning Specialist
Dr. Samuel Walker
– Doctorate of Theology
– Master of Divinity
– Minor Spiritual Psychology
– Bachelor of Science in Business Management
– Associate in Science in Human Resources Management.
We were both raised as preacher’s kids in two parents’ homes. Dr. Samuel Walker was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica as the oldest of five children. I was born and raised in Quitman, MS as the 11th of twelve children. Having the luxury of being raised with both parents gave us an advantage that many never get a chance to experience. We made a vow to each other that no matter what our marriage faces, we will work together to solve the problem so our kids can always get the same experience of growing up with both parents in the home. Our marriage and love for each other and family are bonded with the love of God. The essential things that keep our love and marriage strong are…
– We agree God is the head of our home
– We strive for Excellent Communication
– We Love one another unconditionally
– We have mutual respect for each other’s time, space, & differences
– We Forgive Daily & allow room for mistakes
– We engage in intentional, frequent, & hot passionate sex
– We set goals & work together to achieve them
– We motivate each other to maintain our individuality while achieving our individual dreams and goals
– We raise our kids in unison
– We are always honest with each other even if the truth hurts
– Our Family Motto is “Love Unconditionally, Live Life to the Fullest, & Enjoy the Freedom to be Unapologetically Happy.
Currently, Dr. Samuel Walker is a Navy Veteran, Hospice Chaplain, & Pastor of Jubilee Deliverance Ministries COGIC. I am an author of the book called ‘Love Without Fear’, Spirit Airline Flight Attendant, Paparazzi Independent Consultant, & First Lady of Jubilee Deliverance Ministries COGIC.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most of our marriage have been filled with unconditional love, many great memories, and exceptional achievements together. Our biggest accomplishments are having three amazing kids, starting Jubilee Deliverance Ministries COGIC, owning three properties, and achieving our Doctorate Degrees together. There’s no gain without a few losses along our journey.
Our biggest struggle was our journey to overcome infertility. Despite six losses, failed infertility treatments, and inevitably pain, we were able to depend on our faith to pull us through each disappointment. We see every loss as God trusting us to birth angels. For our faithfulness, God still blessed us with three amazing kids Jada 22, Juliana 8, and Shamar 6.
I had complications with each pregnancy but prayer brought us through. I hemorrhage with Jada and she was born with pneumonia, so she spent a week in the NICU before we brought her home on New Year’s 2001. The doctor requested that I terminate my pregnancy with Juliana due to my amniotic fluids were leaking at 13 weeks. This put her and my life at danger of getting an infection that could kill us both. But I truly believed the pregnancy was a gift from God and he was going to protect us to the end. I had to have an emergency cerclage due to my cervix opening early. Juliana was born at 32 weeks by emergency c-section. This was after I had been on strict bedrest for over 19 weeks & my blood pressure went to 58/40. She was born 4lbs & 4oz and spent three weeks in the NICU. Shamar was the only child that was discharged the same day with me. I was on strict bedrest during my pregnancy with him due to spontaneous bleeding and a cervical cerclage. Recently, he just survived open heart surgery to close two holes in his heart that was found at birth.
We celebrate our kids daily and they are all blessings to us in their own special way. The biggest thing I had to realize through this process is not to be selfish and forget that if I lost a child, my husband also lost a child. So we were able to be there for each other to hold, cry, and overcome together.
Our next challenge was adjusting to military life and life after the military. Recently, we learned from our oldest Jada, that she always craved a more simple life without the many moves. Also, she shared that she didn’t like when we argued when my husband came home from a deployment and wanted to change all the rules that I had set in his absence. Over the years, we learned from our mistakes and we set rules that are the same no matter who’s absence. Life after the military was a financial adjustment, but we didn’t skip a beat. We picked up extra jobs, gig work, & changed careers in order to supplement our income.
Our last challenge was starting the ministry from scratch and surviving the pandemic. We knew without a doubt that God called my husband to preach and Pastor Jubilee Deliverance Ministries COGIC. We stayed positive no matter what was thrown our way. The ministry was started to serve the community. If we have helped and touched 1 or a million, we are doing it under God’s direction and divine favor. We make ourselves available no matter the challenge. Over time we lost a few members, but God continues to send people that encourage and give us hope. Ministry is not for the faint of heart but for those called by God to lead his people out of sin into preparation for everlasting last with the Father.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the author of a book called Love Without Fear. My biggest passion is to heal the heart of women as they desire to experience true love and being loved by the right person.
Love Without Fear is a collection of short stories and poetry that chronicles the journey of several women in their quests for love, acceptance, and the hope of eternal love. Sometimes they find themselves in relationships with the right person under the wrong circumstances. Other times these women are courageous enough to be courted and pursued by men only found in dreams and fairy tales.
I remind others that love never fails, even when it means letting go of the man or your own hurt so that you can have the love God intended for you. You are only ready to love when you are truly able to love without fear.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Life will throw you many curve balls but you must be prepared. Being prepared doesn’t mean that you are going to always know all the correct answers, but you are willing to make the necessary changes and/or adjustments needed. For example, since September 2021 to April 2023, I have lost several family members due to death.
I lost my parents, a dear brother-in-law, three favorite uncles, and an aunt. They all helped to instilled good values and character in my life. Even when I didn’t understand, they were preparing me for the new life without them on this side of heaven. I am thankful to God for gifting me with great parents and family members. With all their teaching and love, there’s no need to cry in silence. I am able to hold my head up, put God first, and continue to achieve my dreams.
My preparation started in 9th grade when I set attainable goals for my life. There’s no better feeling of productivity and success than when checking off goals as you have accomplished them over the years. I have instilled this same thing in my kids. To set goals early and make the necessary changes/adjustments as needed to reach their dreams.
Pricing:
- $15.00 for an autographed hardcopy of book
- $9.99 for a paperback copy of book on Amazon
- $5.99 for Kindle version of book on Amazon
- $5.00 paparazzi jewelry
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paparazziaccessories.com/464318
- Instagram: @askshameka
- Facebook: facebook.com/askshameka
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shameka-walker-phd-mba-bs-as-88993b48
- Twitter: @askshameka
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076211504515&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Image Credits
H. A. A. Photography by Greg J. HD Photography by Holly Doughty
