Linda Lavon (Gilbert) Hollinshed

Life Reflections

 of

Linda G. Hollinshed

On June 2, 2018, God chose to call his servant Linda G. Hollinshed to eternal rest. Felix and Marie Gilbert welcomed Linda into this world August 3, 1949, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. From a young age, she fervently believed in God and education. When teaching creative writing to students, for example, she used the Psalms, and when teaching bible studies at church, she used critical analysis theories. 

Linda graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, OK, then attended Bishop College (Dallas). While at Bishop, she pledged Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science.

In 1969, she married Lonnie Choice. To this union, one child was born, Ajuanya. She later married the late Lunnell Hollinshed.

Linda taught school for 33 years. She excelled in all things academic, requiring the same level of rigorous drive in her students. She taught English, Creative Writing and I.B. classes at Sumner Academy.

A leader both inside and outside of the classroom, Linda worked tirelessly for the needs of students, teachers and para-professionals as a local president for Kansas National Education Association. 

The root of her excellence was her unwavering faith in God. A faithful member of Metropolitan Baptist Church for 40 years, Linda believed in the power of prayer, connecting with members of the Rhoda Circle. She also trusted the efficacy of scripture, the final lesson she taught being 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, where the writer asks, “O death, where is your sting?”

Linda also sang and directed various church choirs, every Christmas singing lead on “Handel’s Messiah” with the Ebony Chorale. 

Although she grew up an only child, Linda had scores of “friends as family”.  

Her crowning jewel, however, was Ajuanya. She’d vacation with her, pray for her, root for her, and, by the grace of God, transitioned into eternity with Ajuanya caring for her.

She is preceded in death by both parents; and a sister who died in infancy.

She leaves to mourn her passing her loving daughter, Ajuanya Choice of Dallas, TX; stepmother, Annette Gilbert; and stepsisters, Willannette Williams (Milton;) and Teresa Williams (Billy) of Fort Worth, TX; Uncle and Aunt Mason B. and Evelyn Tucker; Aunt Nathella Williams of Haskell, OK; daughter-in-love Rev. Dr. Lynette Sparkman-Barnes; best sister-friends Sharon Sparkman; Janet McCann; and Vespa Russ; the entire Metropolitan Baptist Church  family; the Alpha Epsilon Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta; and a host of other relatives, colleagues, students and friends.

“Madam President, may you rest well from your labor, and a bittersweet goodnight.”

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