On April 9, 1941, the city of Gough, Georgia welcomed a precious baby girl by the name of Dorothy Middleton to the late Butler Joseph Middleton, Sr. and Edna Middleton. Dorothy was educated in the Burke County School System. Dorothy was sufficiently advanced in all school subjects and was awarded a scholarship to begin her collegiate career at Paine College at the tender age of 14. In the year of 1955, Dorothy was introduced to Mark Walden and her life was forever changed. On July 4, 1956, the two were wedded in Holy Matrimony and moved to Augusta, Georgia to begin their life together as one. This union was blessed to have ten children, one adopted daughter, twenty five grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. 

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Dorothy Walden gave her life to the Lord on February 28, 1960 at the age of 19 years old and was a faithful member of the Friendly Church of God In Christ. As the Lord began to elevate our beloved, she became a licensed Missionary in the Church of God In Christ under the late Bishop John Howard Dell and served in many capacities of the church. 

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One of her greatest desires in life was to be a MOTHER! She earned this title not only by having biological children, but she claimed a plethora of spiritual children. She was often called Mother, Evangelist, Missionary, Prophetess, Sister, but MOM was the title that she treasured the most. 

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Mother Walden was a servant leader. At the Friendly Church of God In Christ, she served as a Choir Member, Choir President, and Sunday School Teacher. In the year of 1973, God called her husband to Pastor in Thomson, Georgia and she became a faithful member and the Elect Lady of the House of God Church of God In Christ.  At the House of God, Mother Walden served as the Coordinator of the Music Department, Choir President, Adult Sunday School Teacher, and President of the Women’s Department. Mother Walden was also active on the district level and served as the Augusta District Sunday School Field Representative for many years. After her husband was ordained as a Bishop in the Church of God In Christ, Mother Walden served as the Coordinator of the Music Department of the Northern Georgia Second Jurisdiction until her demise.  

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She was often called a “songbird”, because she always had a song ringing in her heart to share with lost souls to cast a “God’s Spell” on them to encourage them to give their lives to Christ. Her anointed riffs and runs would quicken your santified soul. 

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Many described Mother Walden as a people’s person. Her ministry blessed men and women down through the years. She had a yearning to help hurting men and women, confused adolescents, and those who feel like they were at the end of their rope. She was a woman of patience and listened to the cries and concerns of the Saints. 

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Mother Walden was a self-published author and produced two books with inspiration given from an angel’s visit. She was the author of  God’s Ultimate Call for Spiritual Readiness and From Midnight to Morning: The Story Behind the Glory. She was a member of the Christian Writer’s Network and was working on her third book until her health declined. 

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On July 9, 2022, Mother Walden departed her earthly body in the comfort of her home with her dearly beloved family surrounding her in love. Mother Walden was preceded in death by three sons; two that were given back to the Lord as infants, her eldest son, Elder Mark Lorenzo Walden and one grandson, Darryl Lamar Walden. She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband of sixty-six (66) years Bishop Mark Walden; a loving daughter-in-law, Faye Walden; seven children, Barbara (Ivy) Williams, Mirenda Walden, Valerie (Tommy) Moment, Michael (Brenda) Walden, Darryl (Nakia) Walden, Veronica (Ronnie) Hickman, Crystal Walden; one adopted daughter, Frances (Flooker) Adams; twenty-four grandchildren, Mark (Alexandria) Walden, Daniel Walden, Candace Walden, Malachi Walden, Iris (Walter) McNeil, LaChe’ (LaQuan) Sumpter, Joshua Williams, Jonathan Williams, Robert Armenta II, Ryan (Laiana) Armenta, Rachel (Jarvis) Haynes, Raphael Armenta, Renee Armenta, Tommy Moment, Jr., Timothy Moment, Tiffany Moment, Michael (Juanita) Walden, Alicia (Terrell) Fitts, Marcus (Carmelita) Walden, Mark Gabriel Walden, Jasmine Walden, Rodagus Thomas, Justin Thomas, and Aunarey (Tascha) Herbert; seventeen great-grandchildren, Jordan, Isaiah, McKinley, Mark Jr., Caleb, Chase, Braxton, Braylon, Ryan Jr., Roman, Londyn, Noah, Evan, Dekayla, Keyla, Aunarey, and Andre; one great-great grandchild, Khalil; one sister, Josephine Lewis; one brother, Butler Middleton, Jr.; a loving godson Sean (Tina) D’Antignac, a host of nieces, nephews, godchildren, the House of God Church of God In Christ Church Family, the Northern Georgia Second Jurisdiction, and many spiritual sons and daughters, relatives, and friends.