Linda Gentry Southard

Mrs. Linda Gentry Southard, age 82, passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home.  Mrs. Southard was born June 25, 1940 in Surry County to Arie Gentry and Empress White Gentry.

Mrs. Southard retired as director of the afterschool program with Elkin City Schools and was a member of Elkin Valley Baptist Church.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Dixie “Dickie” Southard, and sister, Frances Shore.

Survivors include: son, Chris Southard and wife Anita of Dobson; daughter, Tammy S. Fletcher and husband Doug of State Road; nephew, Michael Shore of Dobson; sister-in-law, Dianne Slawter and husband Larry of Elkin; four grandchildren, Candace Wilmoth and husband Buzz, Eddie Brown and wife Kayla, Marcus Fletcher and wife Ashley, and Michael Fletcher and wife Sabrina; nine great-grandchildren, Sailor Brown, Banks Brown, Aebry Murphy, Ellis Wilmoth, Kaitlyn Fletcher, Abby Fletcher, Brieanna Fletcher, Ryan Fletcher, and McKayla Fletcher.

Mrs. Southard will lie in state Friday, November 4, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Elkin Funeral Service. A private graveside service will be conducted at Elkin Valley Baptist Church Cemetery with Dr. Stephen Robbins officiating.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Intensive Care Unit of Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital and Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home for their care.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Elkin Valley Baptist Church, 118 North Elkin Drive, Elkin, NC 28621; Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607; or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.