Mrs. L. Elaine Stallings was the daughter of the late Mr. Paul Walker Sr., and Mrs. Lois Walker Hinton. Her sunrise began on January 3, 1955, and she finished her journey on September 21, 2024. Elaine was born in Raleigh, NC and attended Wake County public schools. She graduated from Needham Broughton High School in 1973, and in 1977 she graduated from North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Elaine also earned a Master’s Degree from George Washington University in May of 1979 graduating magna cum laude.
She was married to Mr. James Stallings, Jr. The two first met when they were 12 years old, and their friendship grew stronger as they both took some of the same classes together in high school. Years later, Elaine reconnected with Jim while he was out jogging on a rainy day in Annapolis, MD where he attended the US Naval Academy. They were united in holy matrimony on April 25, 1981. Their union was blessed with two sons.
Elaine’s spiritual foundation was shaped in her early years as she attended Mt. Pleasant Church in Raleigh, NC which was founded by her mother. She was a covenant member of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church for over 20 years. She exemplified a spirit of excellence, commitment, and dedication by faithfully serving as a church greeter and on the New Members Ministry. She invited new members into her home for fellowship and Bible study monthly.
Elaine made her professional career in the field of Human Resources. She worked her way from management to executive roles in various companies including Fortune 500 companies like Verizon where she was a human resources manager, to local companies like Xomed, Inc. where she was Vice President of Human Resources.
However, Elaine’s true passion was giving back to others and her community. A lifelong philanthropist, she believed that small causes were equally as important as grand ones. Her primary charitable works were in areas of education and the arts, with a particular focus on youth. She donated resources and time, raising money for important organizations such as the Jay Fund of Jacksonville and The Cathedral Arts Project. She was a World Affairs Council Academic Quest Sponsor and a Premier Level Donor to the American Heart Association. Elaine was extremely generous with her time and proudly served over a decade on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Jacksonville, later becoming its Fundraising Committee Chairperson. She was particularly proud of her annual “An Evening in Wine Country Event” that raised record level donations for the Boys and Girls Club. She also served on the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Board of Directors from 2020 until her passing. Elaine’s groundbreaking full sponsorship of medical scholarships for minority students at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine earned her the 2022 Outstanding Champion of Diversity Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Lifting others was truly her life’s work.
Elaine was a voracious reader, exploring new authors and genres, and she encouraged others to share in her love of reading. In April 1999, Elaine founded The Book Exchange which started as a luncheon with a few friends and soon evolved into a bi-annual event she hosted for 24 years.
Elaine was a fitness and health advocate from an early age. She enjoyed cycling, running, power walking, and competed multiple times in the Donna Deegan National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer.
She had a passion and zeal for life, a beaming smile, and was well-known for being a gracious host, an extraordinary cook, and for baking delicious homemade cakes. Many special memories were made with her family each year at their annual Thanksgiving celebration with over 30 attendees in their Ponte Vedra home.
She loved to travel, had a passion for Broadway plays and the arts and was an enthusiastic Dallas Cowboys fan.
Elaine was known for her straightforward candor, kind heartedness, and resilient spirit. She always spoke with conviction when sharing words of wisdom and counsel, always having the ability to get to the heart of the matter and recommend straightforward solutions.
“A woman of noble character is not easily found. Her price is worth more than rubies. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised!”
Her Christian life was as beautiful as the flowers she loved so well, and her influence will forever remain in the lives of all those who knew her. She fought a good fight, kept the faith and has now finished her course.
Her extraordinary life will forever be cherished by her loving husband Jim; her sons, Mr. Antonio Walker (Kiran) of Willingboro, NJ, and Mr. Brandon Stallings of Jacksonville Beach, FL; her granddaughter, Arianna Walker; her sister, Ms. Delois Clinton of Forestville, MD; her brother Mr. Phillip Walker (Vickie) of Raleigh, NC; her mother-in-law, Mrs. Lucille Stallings of Raleigh, NC; two goddaughters and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Elaine was predeceased by four brothers: Mr. Columbus Newman, Mr. Paul Walker, Jr., Mr. Jeffrey Walker, and Mr. Alvin Walker.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in memory of Elaine Stallings to the Mayo Clinic to support Dementia Research at Mayo Clinic in Florida. Donations can be made by phone, online, or by mail.