James Walker, 68, of Bowling Green has strong ties to State Street. He eats, sleeps and works on State Street. As the custodian at State Street Baptist Church for the past 17 years, Walker is in charge of making sure the century-and-a-half-year-old structure is ready for services on Sunday and Wednesday nights. During the winter months, he bundles up in a heavy coat and a venerable leather cap to shovel snow and salt the icy sidewalk in front of the church.

Not only does Walker work for the church, he worships there as well. “Faith is my life,” Walker said. “I trust and depend on God for all things. I believe in Jesus Christ, his son, that he died for my sins, and I’m just happy to be a part of that life.” Walker lives with his wife, Earnece, three doors up from the church on State Street. Their modest home houses an extensive collection of jazz records from the likes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. Walker also enjoys playing his classical guitar and reading books about Freemasonry in his spare time.

Since moving from St. Louis to Bowling Green to work at the Corvette factory in 1981, Walker has seen the community change in many ways. “I’ve seen Bowling Green change a lot, very positive changes,” Walker said. “I’ve seen it grow. Politics, the religious life and the social life. I’ve seen changes on this street itself. We don’t have as many members. Many older members have passed on.”