Catherine Louise Childs

Catherine Childs, born February 22, 1930, was the eldest child to the union of Wilce and Lelia Walker. She transitioned this life, February 13, 2022, at the age of 91 years. Catherine accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at the Gay Street Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. J.P. Fincher. On October 4, 1946, she married Iverson Childs. To this union of 47 years, three children were born, but an additional seven children called her "Mommie" because she opened her home and heart to foster children. Catherine worked as the church secretary for Tabernacle Baptist Church for over 35 years. As a member of Tabernacle (formerly Gay Street) she was a member of the Missionary Society, Angelic Choir, Mass Choir, and the GSW Scholarship Committee. She held several leadership roles in various auxiliaries. She participated in children and youth activities that took the youth of the church on many trips and outings. She was a narrator in the Lord's Supper Pageant and a Sunday School Teacher, teaching the last time in January 2022. Catherine served her community through the Model Cities Program and Church Women United where she was Vice President of the Ohio Chapter and the East Central Regional Coordinator. She served on the Trustee Board of the Eastern Union Bible College and was part of the OBGC Congress Staff, also serving as an instructor. Catherine represented OBGC as a member of the Ohio Council of Churches, served as Vice President of OBGC Women's Auxiliary, Chair of the OBGC Parent Body Budget Committee and more recently represented the OBGC Women's Auxiliary to the Parent Body as Member-at-Large. Catherine has been an active part of the EUMBA and its Congress of Christian Education. She served as Vice President of the Women's Auxiliary and later as the President of the Women's Auxiliary. Catherine was a lifelong member of the Zodiac Supper Club, which gave scholarships to young people. Catherine received many recognitions and awards for her life's work: 20 Year Foster Parent, Foster Parent of the Year, American Red Cross Minority AIDS Education for Youth, CROP Walk Planning Committee, Tabernacle's Woman of the Year, EUMBA Award for Youth Work, Service Award from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and OBGC Women's Auxiliary Seasoned Saint 2021. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Iverson, Sr. and son, Iverson Jr.; brothers, Darryl, Alfonso, Robert, Thomas, and sisters, Alice Marie and Georgetta; daughter in law, Lucinda and son in law, Marty, Sr. Left to cherish the legacy and life of Catherine are daughters Deborah (Arcenaux) Macklin and Phyllis "Phylaine" Flood; foster sons, Joseph and Mark Crouch and Ronald and Victor Porter; grandchildren, Latonia (DonJuan II) Burke, Shawn and Jacqueline Christian, Marty Jr. and Mara Flood, and Aziza Macklin; 7 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren; special cousin Gloria Walker Jones; sister in law, Mary Walker and brother in law Vernon Harris, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends.