Founded by John Stewart Walker in 1890, the firm that bears his name is the oldest real estate company in Central Virginia. Not only an entrepreneur, John Stewart Walker was also a pioneer in local and statewide real estate activities. He was the first area broker to pass the National Association of Real Estate Board examination and qualify to be an appraiser in Virginia. In addition, he was instrumental in organizing the first Real Estate Association and served on the first Lynchburg Planning Commission.
John Stewart Walker, passed away in 1949 and his son, George C. Walker Sr., took the helm of the company, then located at 215 Ninth Street.
In the 1960’s, General Electric and B&W were locating new facilities in Lynchburg, which brought many new workers and professionals to the area. With so many families looking for places to live, the real estate market was unable to keep up with demand, which created new opportunities for residential construction. John Stewart Walker, Inc stepped up to meet this demand and at one point the company was the largest residential home construction company in the city.
In the late 1960’s, John Stewart Walker, Inc was the first real estate firm in Lynchburg to hire a female agent and would be a trend setter for a profession where women now represent approximately 85% of the work force.
In 1967, George C. Walker Sr. passed away and the reins then passed to his two sons, George C. “Buster” Walker, Jr. and William M. “Billy” Walker. In 1970, Buster and Billy moved the office to Old Forest Road in what was then Campbell County. They were the first real estate firm to move out of downtown and by doing so, followed the growth trends for the city.
The 1980’s and 90’s both saw the growth of technology and the advent of real estate franchises. While the company has been frequently sought out to join a franchise, John Stewart Walker, Inc has resisted these entreaties, choosing to rely on the company’s name and history. John Stewart Walker, Inc operates a referral company, has in-house training and is also a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, all of which enable the company to compete with the franchises.
With the retirement of Buster Walker, Billy Walker took over as sole owner and principal broker in 2013 and the company continued to persevere with a strong commitment of professionalism and service to both the real estate industry and our community. Billy retired in 2024, and the firm transitioned into the capable hands of Elizabeth “Kensie” Walker Johnson, the great-granddaughter of John Stewart Walker.
From the beginning, the ability to adapt to change would be central to the history of this company. From the company’s founder having to adapt to a post-war environment to the current day need to adapt to technology and economic uncertainty, this company has constantly redefined and renewed itself. Which all goes a long way to explaining its longevity.
