Parents, son felled by virus near Shiprock (NM - Baptist minister to the Navajo's)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | April 29, 2020 | Elise Kaplan

[CedarDave]

Jimmy Walters was an old-school “hellfire and brimstone” pastor at a Baptist church on the Navajo Nation.

His wife, Rachel Walters, was equally devout and spent her time caring for their children and home, and weaving Navajo rugs to sell.

Their son, 48-year-old Davis Begaye, lived with them in a four-bedroom house overlooking the mesas, plains and Ute Mountain in the small community of Cudei, outside Shiprock. He worked at the Home Depot in Farmington for several years.

That’s where the family suspects Begaye got infected with COVID-19 – the illness caused by the coronavirus – in early April.

Over the next three weeks, Begaye, and then his parents, died of the disease, one after the other.

Shortly after Begaye died, his mother, 68-year-old Rachel, started feeling sick and was admitted to the Indian Health Service Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock. A couple of days later, her husband, Jimmy, 71, joined her there.

The couple died four days apart, first Rachel and then Jimmy.

Jimmy and Rachel Walters and their son Davis Begaye are three of the 38 people who have died of COVID-19 in San Juan County since New Mexico saw its first death caused by the disease a little over five weeks ago.

San Juan and McKinley counties, which include parts of the Navajo Nation, have been hit hard by the virus, with infection and death rates far higher than in any other area of the state.

McKinley County has reported 953 cases of COVID-19 – almost 200 more than Bernalillo County, whose population is nine times its size – for a rate of 1,294 reported cases per 100,000 people.

San Juan County, where the Walters family is from, has a population of 128,000 and 576 reported cases, for a rate of 449 per 100,000 people.

[Redcitizen]

Farewell Davis. You were a good classmate and neighbor. I remember your good character and good attitude. No one ever spoke ill of you and your family even through the grapevine.

I’m sorry news of your passing came via the newspaper but life takes us to different paths. Never mind what people say of life on the rez or our culture, you grew up in a great place and time with your family who cared for you. I’m sorry your parents had to leave at the same time as you but God is still merciful to us all and His plans always work out in the end.

Im sure you followed your father’s teachings and people say he was a good preacher so we will see you in Heaven beyond this vale of tears.

Farewell for a little while till we meet again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0g9qWT4gHU

[CedarDave]

Thank you so much for posting that. That he was your friend makes his passing personal for us too. To often such deaths are just numbers to most of us who are in areas of the country relatively untouched by the virus. Your message is a poignant reminder that it’s harshness touches those otherwise unconnected and reminds us we are all members of God’s family.

Thank you again for posting and may you be comforted by knowing that all will be reunited in the arms of the Lord.

[Redcitizen]

Thank you for those kind words. There will be shouts of joy and tears of gladness someday and I look forward to that happy day. God’s comfort be with you and your household as well.