Man Helped 300+ Minority Businesses Thrive in Maryland

When DeVance Walker Jr. was a child, his family splurged on a Christmas tree they could barely afford. He took one look at it, thought of the neighbors down the street, and carried everything to their house instead.

That childhood moment captured the spirit that would define his entire life. For more than four decades, Walker dedicated himself to lifting up minority-owned businesses in Montgomery County, Maryland, proving they were essential to economic growth.

Walker created the Small Business Mentorship Program, which supported over 300 businesses from launch to success. In the late 1990s, before modern communication tools existed, he built a massive email network to keep minority business owners informed about opportunities and resources.

"To a young CEO in their late 20s, this proved the county didn't just give you a contract, they gave you a partnership," said Herman Taylor, who opened his office supply company at age 22 with Walker's support. Walker balanced warmth with high expectations, teaching local businesses to perform at the corporate level.

After serving as a military police officer and earning his doctorate from Howard University, Walker became the first minority liaison to a Montgomery County executive. He spent years diversifying the county school system's workforce right after integration, then became chief of the Division of Small and Minority Business Empowerment.

His children had no idea about his impressive titles. Walker never talked about work in terms of hierarchy or prestige. To him, it was always about whom he could help next.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of Walker's work extends far beyond the 300 businesses he directly mentored. Every company he supported went on to hire employees, serve customers, and strengthen their communities. His legacy multiplied with each success story.

"While he was deeply warm and jovial, he did not play when it came to execution," Taylor recalled. Walker sat on boards across Maryland, served as NAACP vice president, and was appointed to the state's Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission.

Montgomery County inducted him into its Human Rights Hall of Fame in 2018. His daughter Jamila said they were spoiled growing up, but not with material things. "It meant pure, unconditional, selfless, unmatched love," she explained.

Walker passed away in June 2024 at age 79, but the businesses he nurtured continue thriving, proving every day that his life's work mattered.