Today we’d like to introduce you to Margaret Walker.
Margaret, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Margaret Walker is a Gpd fearing woman and her priorities are God, family, friends, and public service. Her parents John and Lula Walker taught her the power in knowing God. She is a trailblazer whose career seamlessly bridges public service, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. As a retired Lieutenant from the Memphis Police Department, she dedicated 26 years to serving her city, excelling in crisis intervention, domestic violence response, traffic investigation, and economic fraud investigation, among other critical roles. Today, she is the proud Agency Owner of Shelter Insurance Agency in Arlington, Tennessee, and is actively preparing to launch the EBAB Business Academy—a venture focused on fostering leadership and professional development.
A passionate lifelong learner, Margaret is also the devoted mother of three outstanding adults—each spiritual, intelligent, humble, courageous, and accomplished college graduates, and extraordinary in their own right, and two handsome grandchildren. She graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Christian Brothers University, earned her master’s degree in business from the University of Phoenix, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Capella University. Her academic journey and dynamic career are testaments to her commitment to growth and service.
At the heart of Margaret’s work is a fascination with human behavior and an unwavering desire to inspire others to realize their fullest potential. She strives to live each day with love, service, truth, courage, joy, and ownership—a philosophy that shapes both her personal and professional life. Her guiding mantra, “stay ready,” reflects her belief in preparation, resilience, and embracing each opportunity as it comes.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
What does it really mean to face struggles and challenges? That was the heart of the question I asked my sister, Gloria Walker, as we sat together in the darkness after our utilities were turned off. At 16, I was determined to understand the hard realities behind her tearful response. Life happens, she told me—that sometimes, even when you do everything right, you still find yourself in the dark. I laughed then, confidently declaring, “My lights will never be cut off.” I believed I would always have my act together.
Gloria did just that. After graduating from high school, reality knocked on my door. As I started my pursuit of life, my journey was detoured by rejection and abuse, leaving me believing the untold truth that I was not smart, pretty, or rich enough. Throughout elementary and high school, I only made A’s and B’s, and everyone always told me how smart I am. Imagine finding out after graduation that I had read, written, and communicated at an elementary level. I was devastated. After failing the ASVAB several times and being denied enrollment at a Junior College, I relinquished any chance of becoming a doctor or of accomplishing anything that might make our parents proud. My parents told me that I was deliberately failing the test. I decided to retake the ASVAB, and surprisingly, I scored high enough to become a supply officer. There is normally a long list of job options that are generated to align with your score. I proudly handed the soldiers their equipment, uniforms, and bedding. I lasted, drum roll please, a total of eight weeks in the army and returned home, ashamed, lonely, and lost. Remember, the sister, Gloria, asked me to come live with her, and I did. I gained so much respect after watching her day in and day out care for four beautiful children and still have enough energy to tell me not to give up.
Soon after, I decided to get married, and guess what, my marriage lasted almost two years. Approximately five years later, I remarried, and yep, the marriage could not withstand the strain on the relationship from the birth of my infant child, who was diagnosed while I was pregnant to have Down syndrome or severe kidney disease. The marriage ended when we were both fired and laid off due to having to go to numerous doctors’ appointments, and finally, my son’s doctor was located in Nashville, TN, and that distance was approximately 200 miles one way. My son was born, and his first surgery happened immediately, and the next surgery came later.
After struggling to make ends meet and watching all of my possessions be repossessed, guess what-yep, my utilities were turned off. Gloria came to visit me and said, “Baby, why are you in the dark?” Grudgingly, I gave a tear-jerking response, and as I waited to hear, I told you so or life happens. Instead, she said, “Let me help you with your bill.” I was finally understood what she had tried to prepare me for. In reflection on my own personal struggles, I learned to appreciate the successes and failures of others. From big sis, I learned to love and appreciate all lessons. She taught me to be broke but not broken, afraid but not a coward, to fall but to get back up, how to make something from nothing, and above all to take God EVERYWHERE I go.
I decided not to give up, and I became a Police Service Technician (PST) with the Memphis Police Department, where I handled accidents for 6 weeks before returning to the academy to complete 22 weeks of police training to become a police officer. I was finally accepted into junior college and had to endure at least 6 developmental classes before starting my first core class. Every class was a struggle. I have finished my 6 weeks, and now it’s time for me to return to the Memphis Police Department when I become deathly ill. I went to sleep weighing approximately 120 lbs. and woke up the next day at least 135 to 140 lbs., barely recognizable to myself and others. The short version is that after having numerous doctor’s appointments, I was diagnosed with Lupus that was affecting my kidneys and told I had about 10 years or less to live. I was devastated as I sat there alone. I told my family and friends, and reported the information to the Memphis Police Department, about what my doctor told me. Everyone except my dad and PT Instructor Rosser (MPD PT Instructor) said not to go through the academy because I might die. PT Rosser asked me to show up each day with determination to give 100% of my capability. I was thinking as he talked to me, how it was a struggle just to tie my shoelaces. I went to my dad, who is the pastor of my church, also for over 45 years (Greater Corinthian M.B.C.), who said “You have told me what the doctor said, but what did God say to you?” He said you might die. I understand that is your focus. Then he said, “But if you die, you will die, trying to be somebody, but what if you don’t die and you live knowing that death couldn’t stop you. Can you imagine the feeling you will possess for the rest of your life? You will become unstoppable. I entered the academy and endured physical, emotional, intellectual, educational, and firing range struggles, but I made it and graduated.
Enrolling at Christian Brothers College in Memphis, TN, was both exciting and intimidating. I overheard faculty members claim that Memphis City Schools hadn’t prepared me for college life. There were countless moments when I considered giving up, but while I may have been bruised by setbacks, I was never truly broken. For many students, being asked to stay after class meant an impending withdrawal to avoid a failing grade. When my Finite Mathematics professor, Dr. Pascal Bedrossian, asked me to stay, I braced myself for disappointment. Instead, his warm smile set me at ease.
I confessed, “I know I am stupid, and I will drop the course.” Dr. Bedrossian immediately corrected me: “No, ma’am, you are absolutely smart.” He pointed out that although I had failed some tests, I had answered 90% of each problem correctly. That last 10%—those small errors—were holding me back. He explained, “You’re mastering all the new material, but it’s the foundational math from elementary school that’s tripping you up.” He encouraged me to revisit the basics, telling me to check out 3rd and 4th-grade math books from the library and work through every exercise. “If you build a strong foundation,” he assured me, “you’ll succeed in my class and beyond.”
I took his advice to heart. Every achievement since then, I dedicate to God; to my parents, who instilled in me an unbeatable work ethic; to Gloria, who showed me the power of strength and faith; to my colonel in the Memphis Police Department, who spent hours correcting my homework with a red pen; and, above all, to Dr. Bedrossian, the first person who ever showed me genuine passion, patience, and the path to self-belief.
Life is a whirlwind—unpredictable, unstoppable, and full of unexpected turns. There’s no way to prevent or delay the cycle of events; you simply have to stay prepared. I made a conscious choice to let go of my limiting beliefs. Through my struggles and challenges, I have discovered courage, resilience, and the strength to live beyond others’ expectations. My vision of success is uniquely my own. Embrace this truth: your life is yours to shape. If you never fall, you’re not climbing high enough. Obstacles mean you’re moving forward. I now live with a “No Matter What” mindset—grateful to my parents for teaching me how to survive and especially to Gloria, who showed me what it means to persevere. These challenges have transformed my life into something breathtaking. Today, I feel honored, blessed, and inspired as I continue to reach new heights.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Shelter Insurance Margaret Walker?
At Shelter Insurance, we believe in empowering individuals to build the lives they aspire to live. Our agency specializes in providing a full suite of insurance solutions, including Life, Whole and Term Insurance, Auto, Home, Dwelling, Commercial Fire, Commercial Auto, General Liability, Mobile Homes, Condos, and Business Insurance. What sets us apart is our personalized approach—every client receives dedicated attention and tailored advice to help protect what matters most. We are known for our trustworthiness, accessibility, and commitment to building lasting relationships.
We are most proud of our brand’s legacy of customer satisfaction and industry excellence, as reflected by multiple J.D. Power awards and recognition on Forbes’ World’s Best Insurance Companies list. Our clients have peace of mind knowing they can reach me directly, and if I’m unavailable, our outstanding customer service team is always ready to help.
I want readers to know that Shelter Insurance is more than just an insurance provider—we are your partner in planning for the future and navigating life’s uncertainties. With a focus on integrity, expertise, and genuine care, we strive to deliver insurance solutions that fit your unique needs and support your journey to greater security and prosperity.
I began my insurance career in 2009 and took on the role of Agency Owner at Shelter Insurance in 2021—during a time of unprecedented global uncertainty. Despite industry challenges, Shelter Insurance has consistently set itself apart, earning the J.D. Power Award for Customer Satisfaction among Auto Insurers in the Central Region for multiple years, as well as being recognized on the Forbes World’s Best Insurance Companies list for three consecutive years. These achievements reflect our unwavering commitment to excellence and the trust our clients place in us.
I have worked for many companies, but by far I believe that Shelter has the right recipe to make the best product with the ingredients they have to work with. Please let my agency serve your insurance needs and help you protect what matters most.
How do you define success?
“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
–Winston Churchill
The secret to success lies in the power of loving and believing in yourself. To build a strong
foundation of self-belief, you must embrace the journey of discovering who
you are. This includes confronting your weaknesses and limiting beliefs,
as well as strengthening your positive attributes. This requires truly getting to know yourself. The
foundation of success in life is an unapologetic belief in yourself, your abilities, and your potential. The more you believe in yourself while simultaneously continually enhancing your skills and abilities, the more unstoppable you become.
Although the meaning of success varies for everyone, it’s clear that very few people truly consider themselves successful.
To achieve success, you must cultivate a winner’s mindset regardless of your circumstances. After countless studies and research regarding human behavior, it becomes clear that many people have been taught
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shelterinsurance.com/CA/agent/MARGARETWALKER
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- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretwalker-shelterinsurance/
