Suburban Lanes Bowling Center
 

Suburban Lanes was purchased by Reverend Thomas D. Walker Sr. in August 2000. The purchase fulfilled 29 years of prayer and work designed to use bowling as an  outreach ministry of the church.

Reverend Walker's desire to use bowling as a ministry grew out of an effort to calm racial tensions in Raeford, North Carolina in the early 1970s, where he served as pastor and community leader. To help diffuse the situation, he received permission from then Hoke County high school principal Raz Autry to use a bus on Saturday mornings to transport about 40 youth some 22 miles to Fayetteville, North Carolina to participate in a weekly bowling program.

Within weeks, Reverend Walker surmised that the program was making a major contribution in bringing an entrenched, racially divided community together; thus, giving impetus to his vision and a prayer in 1971: “Lord, if you let me reach age 55, I’ll take early retirement wherever I am and seek an opportunity to use bowling as an outreach ministry.”

He got a jumpstart on realizing his dream in when he retired from Chevron in 1996. One month after returning to Atlanta, he became Manager and League Coordinator for Glenwood Lanes in Decatur, GA. Some 28 months later, he accepted the Manager's position at Suburban Lanes.

“Bowling is more than a recreational sport,” asserts Reverend Walker, “It is an invaluable resource for enhancing self-esteem, instilling self-confidence and bringing families and communities together."

Reverend Walker is an associate minister and shepherd (Sunday School teacher) of the Trailblazers Fulfillment Hour (Sunday School) Class at Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur, GA; a member of the Board of Directors of the Bowling Proprietors of the Carolinas and Georgia (BPAC/GA); a director with the Georgia State Bowling Council;  a member  of the Georgia State USBC Youth Board of Directors and Adult Advisor to the Georgia State Youth Leader Program; manager of the Suburban Lanes USBC Youth program; and, a certified bowling coach (Dick Ritger Level I/USBC Bronze).

Suburban Lanes was recognized in January 2004 by the Greater Atlanta Bowling Association as the "Bowling Center of the Year". In January 2005,  Reverend Walker was honored as the Association's  "Manager of the Year." ; and in January 2008,  inducted into the Association's "Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service. The awards," Reverend Walker says, reflect the center's  intent to live up to its  motto, "In the Community, for the Community.". For more information, please call  (404) 373-2514.