Madam C. J. Walker died at age 51 at her Villa Lewaro estate in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, from complications of hypertension and kidney failure.
On May 25, 1919, Madam C. J. Walker died at the age of 51 at her opulent estate, Villa Lewaro, in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. Her death was attributed to complications from hypertension (high blood pressure) and kidney failure, ailments exacerbated by years of relentless work and travel in building her business empire.
At the time of her death, Walker was widely regarded as one of the wealthiest African American women in the United States, and her estate was valued at over one million dollars—an almost unimaginable sum for a Black woman of her era, especially one born into poverty just decades after slavery. Her passing marked the end of an extraordinary life that had transformed her from a laundress and domestic worker into the head of a nationwide beauty and hair-care empire employing thousands of Black women as sales agents.
Her funeral drew significant attention, with tributes from prominent Black leaders including W. E. B. Du Bois, who eulogized her as having made it possible for many other Black women to earn a livelihood. Villa Lewaro itself, designed by African American architect Vertner Tandy, became a National Historic Landmark and stands today as a testament to her achievements. Walker's death did not end her legacy: her daughter A'Lelia Walker inherited leadership of the company, and Madam Walker's story continued to inspire generations as a symbol of Black entrepreneurship, resilience, and philanthropy.