Linda S. Campbell

Our dear sister, aunt, niece and friend Linda S. Campbell, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Campbell Sr. took her final breath in this life on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at her home as her three surviving siblings at her bedside held her hands.

Linda's amazing life story began in Austin, Texas on February 20, 1958. She was a sweet, happy and beautiful baby girl with light blonde hair and stunning blue eyes. She was the fifth of six children born to her parents. As the daughter of a military pilot and flight instructor, Linda and her family traveled from Texas to Alabama before finally settling in Savannah, Georgia in 1968. Linda had a wonderful early childhood, and she absolutely adored her family. Growing up, Linda enjoyed a happy home life with her parents and siblings. She was a good student, and she was active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship at Trinity United Methodist Church in downtown Savannah. She had many interests and talents from an early age which included playing the piano, sketch art, writing and watching televised collegiate and professional sports with her family. Linda received her high school diploma from Savannah High School during the Summer of 1975.

The Campbell family members shared an interest in sports, and they especially enjoyed the game of baseball. Linda and her little brother Jon were fans of Cincinnati's Big Red Machine. In 1978 they were thrilled when they were able to acquire box seats behind home plate at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium for the opportunity to watch the Braves host the Reds. This game was exciting and memorable and historical as well since this was the game in which Pete Rose had his record chasing 44 game hitting streak broken after he struck out to end the game. The Reds lost and the two young fans though disappointed returned the following afternoon to watch their baseball heroes defeat the Braves behind the hitting of legendary Hall of Fame players Rose, Morgan and Bench while witnessing the Reds ace and Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver pitch a masterpiece. To top off the victorious and glorious day, at the end of the game Reds centerfielder Cesar Geronimo placed a baseball used during the game in the palm of Linda's hand.

Later in the 1978 baseball season, Linda met and made friends with Sally Brizzolara who was the wife of the Savannah Braves pitcher Tony Brizzolara. Tony was promoted and finished the season with the Braves AAA affiliate in Richmond, Virginia. The following season, Tony made the major league roster for the Atlanta Braves. Sally invited Linda and her brother to Atlanta to watch Tony pitch and ironically Tony's opponent was set to be Cincinnati's Big Red Machine! On that day, the Reds did what they did best which was sending opposing pitchers to the showers very early in the game and unfortunately for Tony, that day was not an exception. Though Linda and Jon were Reds fans, they agreed that they would cheer for Tony to pitch well and win the game. Despite his early exit from the game Tony, who was always a good sport, a true professional and a class act, presented his guests with a baseball which was autographed by the entire Atlanta Braves team!

Linda began as a student at Armstrong State College and after two years of study there she transferred to Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, where she graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree while majoring in Journalism. While at GSC, she wrote sports columns for the school newspaper, The George-Anne. After college Linda chose to follow in her big sister Carolyn's footsteps by pursuing a career as a commercial flight attendant. She initially flew with Altair Airlines before she secured a position with Eastern Airlines in New York City. She thoroughly enjoyed discovering the bright lights and big city sights, sounds and shows in the place known worldwide as "The Big Apple." Always the gracious and accommodating hostess, Linda's family visited her often in her apartment which was located in Manhattan. Once Eastern Airlines ceased operations, Linda then went to work as a corporate flight attendant with General Electric where she met some high-profile passengers on her flights such as comedian Jerry Seinfeld, CEO Jack Welch and Cosmetics mogul Mrs. Estee Lauder and others. She decided to make a career change by accepting an offer presented to her by Mrs. Estee Lauder in which Linda would work for her as her Executive Assistant! This was an extremely exciting time in Linda's career and life as she would frequently attend high profile functions and business meetings with Mrs. Estee Lauder where she met with and corresponded with very well-known personalities such as members of England's Royal family. During a special event in which Mrs. Estee Lauder was the guest of honor, Linda met with and conversed briefly with Donald J. Trump!

Linda also developed an appreciation for the sport of golf. She took golf lessons and in a relatively short time but with much practice, Linda demonstrated she had improved her skills enough to compete in club tournaments with friends and business associates for the fun and experience. She also attended gourmet cooking seminars and she developed excellent culinary skills that she would enjoy using for the rest of her life. One of Linda's most precious and most meaningful experiences she ever had in her life was the trip that she took with her dear Mom to London, England and then traveling to Scotland where they spent time together sightseeing, touring and visiting Linda's sister Gayle and her family who were living in Scotland at that time.

In the mid 1990s, as Mrs. Estee Lauder became less involved in the business of her cosmetics empire that she founded in 1946, Linda decided to seek other opportunities and for a while she worked with her close friend who owned and operated her own perfume company. In the late 1990s, Linda made the decision to return back home to Savannah to be with her family who she loved and missed. She loved her Mom more than words can describe. While back in Savannah, Linda worked as a corporate flight attendant with NetJets and Gulfstream Aerospace and she also worked at the Savannah College of Art & Design.

Linda was always important to her family and her family was just as important to her. She was extremely proud of her family's Scottish heritage and she and her Mom and brother became involved as supporters of the Clan Campbell Society of North America. They were regular annual attendees at the Savannah Scottish Games where they could be found seated under the Clan Campbell tent while enjoying delicious scones and other tasty Scottish treats. They would often participate as representatives of Clan Campbell during the opening ceremonies at the Games.

Linda was a rare and unique person who made everyone feel and know just how special and important they were to her. She was known for her thoughtfulness, and she had a special knack for finding the right greeting cards with the right messages for the right occasions. It was a priority for her to give special gifts to members of her family and friends and on these occasions, she would put in the extra time and effort that it would take in order to consider everyone's special individual personalized needs and tastes. She treated everyone in her life with kindness because she had such a warm heart, and she was sweet and trusting. She had such a very likeable and unforgettable personality and a wonderful sense of humor as well.

Those of us who were blessed to have had our lives touched by Linda believe that she is now in Heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We believe that she is finally reunited with her beloved Mom and Daddy, her sister Carolyn, and her brother Eddie after missing them for so long while still here in this life. Until we meet her again, she will be greatly missed by her sisters Gayle Andrews (Dennis), Angie Prewitt (Leland), and her brother Jon Campbell (Elena). Other special members of Linda's family who were near and dear to her heart include her nephews Payton James Prewitt and his family, Garrett Joseph Campbell, niece Joy Andrews Boltz and her family, and her namesake and niece Linda Lee Rodgers and her family.
Linda's last two surviving aunts are her Mom's two amazing sisters, Helen Mayberry who will turn 93 in June of this year and Beverly Greca who turned 98 earlier this month.

The Campbell family wishes to offer a sincere thank you to Georgia Hospice Care and Tracey, Diane, Taylor, Dee Dee, and Chaplain Darren.

And much appreciation from Linda's family also goes to her loving care giver, Carol Long.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, Wounded Warriors Project, and to the American Cancer Society.

Please sign our online guestbook at www.bakermccullough.com

Services have been entrusted to Baker McCullough Funeral Home Garden City Chapel, 2794 West US Highway 80 Garden City, GA 31408. (912) 964-2862. www.bakermccullough.com