Linda Stephens. Linda died on January 17, 2021.
Her obituary: Linda Dianne Wood, Jasper, Georgia, October 27, 1952 – January 17, 2021. The north Georgia community lost a fine resident this week, one of the finest according to many that knew and loved her. Linda Stephens Wood was born October 27th, 1952 in Jacksonville, FL and was called home in the mid-afternoon sunshine of the day of rest, Sunday the 17th of January, 2021, at the young age of 68. Though Linda's earthly life ended on this day, she will be eternally remembered for the Christian living legacy of selfless service, welcoming warm humility, comforting compassion and of the sometimes audacious (if you really get to know her) humor and laughter that was her best medicine and used in the aid of so many. Linda completed high school at Sprayberry High School in Marietta, where she was senior class president and along with her senior varsity quarterback boyfriend named Ms. and Mr. Sprayberry High School, they would continue on to be Mr. and Mrs Wood. After graduating high school she went on to earn a secretarial vocational degree at what was Cobb-Marietta Vocational Technical School, and used that training to provide for her young family while her husband completed his degree. Linda married her beloved husband Wyatt on August 14th, 1971. This young couple expanded their family with the birth of their two sons, Matthew in 1975 and Wesley in 1981. In her adult life Linda became the warm sunshine in the spring sky and the yellow rose in the flower bouquet in the lives of so many people. She kept her family close to the church, and enjoyed memberships at Piedmont Baptist Church, Lost Mountain Baptist Church, Burnt Hickory Baptist Church and at the Big Canoe Chapel. She carried droves of friends and family members by her apron strings, getting the flour dust of people's lives on her apron as she tended to the needs of the many through the years of her service to others. She ministered with service. She ministered with her mastery of the kitchen and the fusion of traditional southern cooking with what-will-my-boys-eat improvisation. She used these skills to feed the hungry, and many came to be fed at her tables. I once heard her say that she didn't much enjoy cooking, but it was her selfless drive to meet the needs of others that compelled her to complete this service with the love for whoever sat at her table, just one of countless examples of her service and selflessness. She ministered with compassion, and even if her agenda was full with tasks at hand she always put you first if you sought refuge in her vast well of wisdom and you would feel as though you were the only agenda item in her schedule for the day. She ministered with laughter, commanding a wonderful sense of humor that balanced the righteous and the inappropriate with perfect finesse. Her countenance was welcoming and an open door to the many that eagerly walked through it to seek her counsel. Linda was rarely seen sitting down, she was always working a chore, or creating a clothing item for a child, or a grand, or a niece or nephew. She was always arranging flowers even if no one came to admire them, still she toiled in beauty for beauty's sake. Her true self was one of productivity, always working with a song and a smile, in the favor and in the service of the Lord she loved. Linda contributed countless hours of volunteer work, served in the ྜ Olympics in Atlanta as a "yellow ringer", she earned her Master Gardener credentials and training that she would use to demonstrate skills in the garden no less than the name would suggest. Linda also beloved the time she was able to volunteer at Tate elementary and at first help create knowledge in phonics but go on to foster a young girl on through that young woman's high school years to provide that loving guidance we all appreciated from sweet Linda. Linda was an accomplished traveler, having ventured to the Holy Land, to Italy and other parts of Europe, to Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, to nearly all points of the mainland US from Maine to New York City to Florida (where she would always return if it were her choice for vacation), to the desert southwest to the mountains of Montana and Wyoming, the pacific coast of California, Oregon and Washington, to Hawaii, and several trips to Alaska. She was an accomplished trout fisherwoman, an avid camper, an extraordinary crafter of many interests, and a lover of life and of the moment. The loss of Linda Stephens Wood is the immeasurable loss of those that remain and her incalculable heavenly gain, where we are sure she has been fitted with an extraordinary pair of wings and a beautiful crown of monarch yellow stones. Linda is survived by her beloved husband, Wyatt; her son, Matthew and spouse, Rachael and their children, Lael (16) and Luke (14); her son, Wesley and spouse, Elizabeth and their children, Gillian (8), Rowan (6) and Watson (3); her sister, Cindy Stephens and her brother, Ricky Stephens and spouse Susan Stephens amongst a myriad and tribe and drove of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Memorial services are being held for the family only due to limited available attendance. The family is requesting donations to the Timothy House Ministry in Talking Rock in lieu of flowers. Donations to the Timothy House may be accepted at 35 Regeneration Way, Talking Rock, GA 30175. Checks should be made payable to Timothy House .
Linda Stephens Wood, your beautiful earthly race is run, thank you for your wonderful living legacy and your undying service to others that continues to serve in the hearts of so many, you will never be forgotten. We can't wait for the day that we see you once more! It will be a beautiful day. We love you, now and always.
[Roper Funeral Home, Jasper, Ga.]
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