Linda Sue Smith

Linda Sue Smith

LINDA SUE SMITH WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 5, 1949, IN MINEOLA, TEXAS, TO LEONARD CHARLES GREGORY AND MINNIE LEE WILLIAMS (LEON WILLIAMS SR). SHE PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY ON AUGUST 17, 2025, IN TYLER, TEXAS, SURROUNDED BY THE LOVE OF HER FAMILY.

 LINDA WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HER PARENTS; HER BELOVED HUSBAND, ROBERT HAYWOOD FRANKLIN SMITH; HER SISTERS, THOMENSA WILLIAMS, OPAL WILLIAMS, AND NORA COLEMAN; AND HER BROTHERS, STANLEY WILLIAMS, LEON WILLIAMS AND EUGENE GREGORY.

 SHE LEAVES BEHIND A LEGACY OF LOVE AND STRENGTH THROUGH HER SISTERS, GLADYS TUCK (CECIL TUCK) AND STEPHANIE BROWN (JERRY BROWN); HER BROTHERS, JEROME HENDERSON AND JAMES GREGORY; HER CHILDREN: TONYA JOHNSON, SHARRELL (CHARLES MCKENZIE), CAROL (LUIS MARTINEZ), INGRID (KELVIN RUSSELL), DESHUN WILLIAMS, AND DANIELLE RAMSEY SMITH; HER SONS, RODERICK SMITH AND MICHAEL SMITH; 24 GRANDCHILDREN; 18 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN; AND A HOST OF NIECES, NEPHEWS, EXTENDED FAMILY, AND CHERISHED FRIENDS.

 LINDA WAS A TRUE SERVANT IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. PROFESSIONALLY, SHE SERVED AS A DEDICATED MEDICATION AIDE, FAITHFULLY CARING FOR PATIENTS AND ENSURING THEIR COMFORT AND WELL-BEING. HER YEARS IN HEALTHCARE WERE MARKED BY KINDNESS, ATTENTIVENESS, AND AN UNWAVERING SENSE OF DUTY. SHE TREATED EACH PATIENT WITH DIGNITY AND LOVE, OFTEN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.

 BUT EVEN GREATER THAN HER PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS HER ROLE AS A MATRIARCH. LINDA WAS A LOVING MOTHER, A DEVOTED SISTER, A WISE COUNSELOR, AND A LOYAL FRIEND. HER ARMS WERE ALWAYS OPEN, HER TABLE ALWAYS FULL, AND HER PRAYERS EVER CONSTANT. SHE HAD A QUIET STRENGTH THAT COULD STEADY THE STORM AND A FIERCE LOVE THAT COVERED HER FAMILY LIKE A SHIELD.

 SHE FOUND JOY IN THE SMALL THINGS—FAMILY GATHERINGS, STORYTELLING, GOSPEL MUSIC, AND CARING FOR HER LOVED ONES. LINDA’S LAUGHTER COULD LIGHT UP A ROOM, AND HER HUGS COULD CALM EVEN THE MOST TROUBLED HEART. HER FAITH IN GOD WAS STRONG, AND IT GUIDED EVERY PART OF HER LIFE. SHE TAUGHT HER CHILDREN TO BE KIND, TO WORK HARD, TO FORGIVE QUICKLY, AND TO ALWAYS PRAY.

 HER LEGACY IS ETCHED IN THE HEARTS OF EVERYONE WHO KNEW HER. THOUGH SHE MAY BE GONE FROM OUR SIGHT, HER LOVE, WISDOM, AND SPIRIT WILL LIVE ON THROUGH GENERATIONS. WE FIND PEACE IN KNOWING THAT SHE IS REUNITED WITH LOVED ONES GONE BEFORE AND THAT HER SOUL RESTS WITH HER HEAVENLY FATHER.