According to a history marker by the Walters credits her family with much at the graduation ceremony, and that school the “吀栀ompson Institute was es- of her success and her positive outlook she will now have an opportunity to tablished in 1881 for blacks by Lumber on life. continue on the legacy and values she River Baptist Assoc. Boarding School; instilled in her. trained teachers; named for A.H. “My Grandma taught her children they 吀栀ompson. Succeeded here by public could be anything they wanted to be,” “I thank my Grandma for everything, school in 1942.” Walters said. “She took my mother to she took up that torch to advocate for the March on Washington in 1964… children in our community and that is Although Walters was not born in she helped to desegregate the schools… what I aspire to be,” Walters said. “She Robeson County, she still considers this and all my life, I knew that she would helped me to see that we should want to be home. She was born in Pennsyl- be there for me.” everyone to be prosperous and for our vania, which is where her parents were Although her Grandma has now children to see there is great things that stationed at the time of her birth. passed, Walters says she knows that her can come out of Robeson County.” Grandma’s presence was with her today “My parents were from Robeson County and both were in the military,” Walters said. “But I spent a lot of time with my Grandmother who lived here growing up, and when I was 18 years old, this is where I came home to live.” Being raised in the military environ- ment, allowed Walters an opportunity to see the world. “I have lived in a multitude of di昀昀erent places and countries,” Walters said. “New Jersey, Philadelphia, Kansas, Hawaii, and Germany to name a few… I think that helped me to be more well-rounded… I experienced di昀昀erent cultures and had opportunities to be around di昀昀erent people.” “In the military, they teach you to treat people like you want to be treated, and that’s how I want to be,” Walters said. “I think that’s the kind of attitude you need to become a greater person and for me, a better teacher.” Walters says that as a teacher, she wants to make a lasting impact on her stu- dents and her community, much like her descendants did. “It doesn’t matter what you look like or where you come from,” Walters said. “I am going to treat each of them like the child I hope they become… I know if they are sparked by the right person, they will succeed, and I want to be that person.” 13 13