WARNER ROBINS – Mayor Pro Tem John Havrilla was quietly emphatic Monday that the city’s work will continue even as employees mourn the loss of Mayor Donald Walker.

Walker, 60, died Monday at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon of a gunshot wound to the head, according to Brett Evans, chief of police.

At an emergency City Council meeting Monday afternoon, Havrilla said, “The next couple of days will not be easy. But we will press on, shoulder the burden as best we can. We have to fulfill our duties to the public, and will balance that with our grief.”

The 15-minute meeting was punctuated by messages of grief and condolences from Havrilla and other council members.

Police Chief Brett Evans summed up the day’s events at the meeting.

“The police responded this morning to a 911 call at the Walker home, called in by Patricia Walker,” Evans said. “The fire department was also sent. We found the mayor with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head.”

Walker was stabilized at the Houston Medical Center emergency room, than transported via ambulance to the Medical Center in Macon, Evans said, where he was pronounced dead at 1:49 p.m.

Evans said the investigation will be treated like other cases, and an autopsy was to have been performed Tuesday morning.

Before the meeting, city hall employees somberly gathered in a line along the curb on Watson Boulevard and joined hands to await the motorcade bringing Walker’s body back to the Houston Medical Center.

As the ambulance and police escort went by, some saluted and others put their hands over their hearts. After it passed the line broke up and people hugged each other or comforted those who were crying. After a few minutes they quietly filed back to city hall.

People registered their shock or sadness at news of Walker’s death.

“This is tough for me,” said longtime friend Glenn Greenway. “Donald Walker was the best mayor this city ever had. He worked well with everyone, and he moved us forward. We never would have got to where we are today without him and his vision.”

Greenway, vice chairman of the hospital authority, credited Walker for keeping the Houston Medical Center in the city limits.

“He would do anything possible to make this a better city,” Greenway said Monday. “If it were not for him, the hospital on Watson Boulevard would now be located on U.S. 41.”

Walker was dedicated to education, he said, and noted he was singled out for praise in August as the Warner Robins campus of Macon State College dedicated its new $5 million Oak Hall.

“He’s the single reason it has a campus here in the city,” Greenway said. “He worked nonstop, 24/7 for Warner Robins.”

At Monday’s meeting, council members offered their reaction to the day’s events.

“I’m very saddened. I’ve been here since he came into office, and I never dreamed I would be here when he left,” said Terry Horton. “We didn’t always agree, but we would talk and work things out. He will be missed.”

Clifford Holmes Jr. agreed Walker would be missed.

“We go a long way back, and I used to joke with him that his father was the best mayor of Warner Robins,” Holmes said. “We are saddened and our hearts are heavy.”

“Our thoughts and our prayers go to the family,” said Bob Wilbanks. “He was a strong leader and a lot of people loved him.”

“I don’t know if there is a word in the dictionary for how I feel,” said Tom Simms. “He loved the city dearly and did a great job.”

Chuck Chalk, a candidate for mayor, said in a news release he prayed “the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be with the Walker family and our great city.”

Havrilla suggested the city council give employees a day off to attend Walker’s funeral, and stressed that despite the tragedy the city will carry on.

“The citizens need to know our people are professionals – those in the police department, fire, utilities and public works departments,” Havrilla said. “We may be grieving, we may be hurting, but we will continue to do the citizens’ business.”

“He was a real Christian person,” Greenway said. “He’s my friend and I will miss him.”