WILMINGTON — Doris L. Walters, former missionary to Japan, minister, author, educator, spiritual counselor and friend died on Monday, December 9, 2024, at Lower Cape Fear Life Care.
Ms. Walters was born in Anson County, North Carolina on February 24, 1931, to Henry L. and Mary Helms Walters. She was predeceased by her parents, an infant brother, Charles, her oldest brother, Roy and wife, Dorothy Griffin Walters, a sister, Betty Griffin and husband Boyd Griffing, a brother, Michael and another sister, Geraldine Walters, a nephew, Steve Griffin a sister-in-law, Barbara Snipes Walters, and brother-in-law, Boyd Griffin.
Ms. Walters is survived by brothers, Glenn (Debra), L.F., and Jerry (Mary Ann), as well as a sister, Annette (John) Bennett. She bids farewell to numerous nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews and five great-great nieces and nephews. Very special to her are twins, Connor and Abigail Walters, children of Stony and Karen Walters. She leaves behind a special nephew, Tom Walters who moved to Wilmington several years ago and has given her special attention when needed. She also sadly leaves two very special friends, Frances Feil and Linda Ford Farrell as well as a host of friends in Japan and missionary kids throughout the world.
Ms. Walters’ education began in a small rural school in the Antioch community near Lancaster, SC. She graduated valedictorian of her class from the Benton Heights High School in Monroe, NC and was voted most likely to succeed. In between high school graduation and entering Gardner Webb Jr. College she worked at the Hudson Hosiery Plant in Charlotte, NC and the Wisteria Hosiery Plant in Gastonia, NC. At the age of twenty-five, she began her college work at Gardner-Webb Junior College where she was voted best- all- around student of her class. Upon graduating from Junior college she transferred to Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN where she was selected for Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She graduated from Carson Newman cum laude. During the summers when she was in college she served as a summer missionary in Illinois, Kansas, and Maryland.
Ms. Walters received her Master’s Degree in Religious Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. One summer during seminary years she served as a summer youth director at the First Baptist Church, Orange, TX.
After graduating from the seminary, Ms. Walters became the Youth/Education Director at Winter Park Baptist Church where she served until she went to Japan as a missionary (1963- 1966). In Japan she served as an education missionary for more than 20 years. First, she attended Japanese Language School in Tokyo for two years.
Ms. Walters taught at Seinan Gakuin (Southwest Girl’s Jr. College), located in Kitakyushu, Japan from 1968 – 1971. From 1983 – 1986 she served as the Tokyo Lifeline Referral Counselor to the English speaking residents and tourists with her designated area covering Hiroshima to the tip of the Southern Island of Kyushu.
In 1972, she moved to Fukuoka, Japan where she organized and developed a student-community center called the Fukuoka Friendship House. She remained there until 1986. There she had the privilege of working with Japanese architects in designing and building a half-million dollar building to house the expanding program.
In 1982 while on furlough she earned a master’s degree in pastoral counseling at Wake Forest University, and in 1988 she earned a doctor of ministry degree in pastoral counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She also graduated from the School of Pastoral Care at North Carolina Baptist Hospitals in Winston Salem where she served in the counseling department as a counselor to missionary families and their children. She served on the Board of Advisors for Charter Psychiatric Hospital in Winston Salem from 1992 – 1993.
In 1993 she founded and served as Executive Director/Therapist for Missionary Family Counseling Services, Inc. located in Winston Salem where she counseled more than 1000 individuals from 72 countries and 36 denominations. Ms. Walters was ordained to the gospel ministry by the Winter Park Baptist Church on November 14, 1982.
In 1992 Ms. Walters was selected alumnus of the year at Gardner-Webb University. In 1991 she was named one of eight outstanding alumni.
In 1993 Ms. Walters was selected for Who’s Who of American Women, and in 1995 for Who’s Who in the World. In 1996 she was selected to appear in Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, and in 2001 was chosen for entry into the Registry of Outstanding Professionals.
She served on the Wake Forest University Alumni Council from 1992-1995 and again from 1996-1999. Ms. Walters was a trustee at Gardner-Webb University from 1999 -2003. In 1998, at the request of Dr. Woodard, who was then in charge of the archives at Wake Forest, donated her library, papers and other items collected from her life in Japan and later in the USA.
Upon retirement from Missionary Family Counseling Services in 2003 she moved to Wilmington where she spent time writing. Her books are: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RE-ENTRY ISSUES OF THE CHILDREN OF MISSIONARIES; MISSIONARY CHILDREN CAUGHT BETWEEN CULTURES, and THE UNTOLD STORY: MISSIONARY KIDS SPEAK FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. Unpublished are THE TWO MAJOR RELIGIONS OF JAPAN: Shinto, Buddhism, written for laypeople, and the Development and Growth of Christianity in Japan. She also wrote her autobiography entitled: FROM THE COTTONFIELDS OF UNION COUNTY TO JAPAN AND BACK, unpublished.
Dr. Walters was, especially, a strong supporter and a source of inspiration to the children of missionaries. She was always there for them in their times of need or just to listen. Her’s was a life of service to God and people from all walks of life. Her epitaph is: “MINE WAS NO HUM DRUM LIFE.”
Dr. Walters was a member of First Baptist Church where she was also a member of the Wells Sunday School Class.
A service of celebration will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, December 13, 2024, at First Baptist Church, Wilmington. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 pm at the church. Officiating will be Dr. Mike Queen and Rev. Jim Everette. Other speakers will include Mrs. Julie Spivey Hudson, Eddie Lackamy, Dr. Ted Dougherty, Mrs. Collis Hill and Tom Walters. Entombment will follow at the mausoleum in Oleander Memorial Gardens. Everyone is invited to attend, sharing experiences.
Memorials are requested to be made to the charity of one’s choice.
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