Linda Faye Smith was born on March 19, 1947 in Roanoke, Virginia to William and Virgie Mae Thornhill. She was one of 16 siblings. Linda’s parents died when she was young and her older siblings played a major role in her upbringing. She moved to Youngstown, Ohio to live with her cousin, Dreamer Poindexter, and later moved to Mount Vernon, New York and lived with her eldest sister, Betty White and Betty’s daughter, Sandra Dotson. She attended Roosevelt High School in The Bronx, New York and Fashion Institute in New York City.

Linda was introduced to the love of her life, James Howard Smith of Godwin, North Carolina, by a mutual friend in the summer of 1963 at a party being held in Mount Vernon, New York. The couple married on August 19, 1967 and had three beautiful children, Danny Lawrence, Pamela Danell and Terence Maurice. They raised their children in The Bronx, New York. She worked at Fine Recording, Inc. putting reel-to-reel audio recordings together and, shortly thereafter, worked at JC Penney Company as a key punch operator.

Linda had a thirst for Bible truths. She began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and, as her love deepened for her Heavenly Father, she made a decision to dedicate her life to Jehovah God and was baptized on September 10, 1980. Howard noticed the changes Linda made in her life because of her faith and her desire to make Jehovah’s heart happy. He also began to study the Bible and was baptized in 1982 as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They were members of the Clason Point Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in The Bronx, New York where they developed deep friendships that they continue to hold today. Linda loved the ministry and loved to share and teach Bible truths with all whom she met, assisting many to develop their love for Jehovah God and also dedicate their lives to Him.

In 2006, Linda and Howard left New York City and moved to Holly Springs, North Carolina where they continued to serve Jehovah in the West Holly Springs Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She enjoyed many warm friendships.

Linda loved to laugh and was known to have a loving and feisty personality. She was usually one of the first on the dance floor. She was an amazing seamstress. One of her favorite sports was bowling and she loved to play checkers and backgammon. She loved to draw and everyone loved her cooking. She and Howard were known to travel great distances to visit family and friends that were sick. She truly loved her family and her friends. Most of all, she loved Jehovah God and his son, Jesus Christ. She loved to read and meditate on Bible scriptures. She drew comfort from one of her favorite Bible verses found in Isaiah 41:10, 13 which says, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be anxious, for I am your God. I will fortify you, yes, I will help you, I will really hold on to you with my right hand of righteousness. For I, Jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand, The One saying to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I will help you.” Linda’s faith was unwavering and her hope in God’s promises sustained her throughout her life. She especially looked forward to eternal life in the restored earthly paradise promised in Revelation 21:3, 4 when God “will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” She looked forward to seeing her son, Danny, again, together with the many family and friends that preceded her in death. During her final days, she encouraged all to “keep serving Jehovah” and told us to make sure we did all we could to be in that promised new world soon to come. She often sang her favorite song, “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize!” We look forward to seeing our dear Linda again soon. Until that glorious reunion, she will be greatly missed. Linda is survived by her husband, James Howard Smith; her children, Pamela D. Alexander (husband, Brian), Terence M. Smith (wife, Deborah); her grandchildren, Crystal Smith-Stroud (husband, Jermeir), Shaneé Smith, Jaylin Smith, and Jade Benson-Smith (Danny’s children), Charles Alexander, and Ariana Smith; her great-grandchildren, Jordan Stroud and Charli Bea Stroud. Linda is also survived by her siblings, Willard Mack Thornhill, Carol Barksdale (husband, Larry), Melvin Thornhill (wife, Pam), Janice Thornhill, Pauline Woodard, Clyde Thornhill (wife, Annette), William L. Thornhill II (wife, Debra) and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Linda is preceded in death by her son, Danny L. Smith; her parents William L. Thornhill and Virgie Mae Thornhill; siblings William L. Thornhill Jr., Mary E. Beale, Frances E. Thornhill, Bobby Thornhill, Lucille M. Thornhill, Betty J. White, Harvey White and Brenda Lee Thornhill Cotton.

A Memorial Service will be held via Zoom at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, 2021. A video presentation will be shown prior and will begin at 1:45 p.m. Following are the Zoom details: Join Zoom Meeting

https://jworg.zoom.us/j/85044519894

Meeting ID: 850 4451 9894

Passcode: John528