Obituary of Linda Woodson

Beloved mother, wife, sister, and friend Linda Ida Woodson - age 61 - passed away on the 13th day of April 2014 at the UCLA Medical Center, in the loving presence of family. Although she will be deeply missed, her remarkably profound life and indelible spirit have left deep and enduring imprints on the lives of family, friends, and any privileged to have known her. Her beautiful legacy is one defined by an unwavering faith in God, an inspiring triumph over adversity, a devoted service to all, an incredible passion for life, and a deep, abiding, and unconditional love of those dearest to her. One of seven children, Linda was born in Richmond, Virginia on May 6, 1952 to Ernest and Mary Washington. Her lifelong intellectual curiosity and adventurous inclination traces its origins to her spirited childhood filled with dreams of 'what if' or 'what could be.' Never one to fit any particular mold, teenaged Linda became a conversational Russian speaker in a predominately African-American neighborhood in the Deep South at the height of the Cold War. Linda's academic achievement and inquisitive nature led her to attend Virginia Commonwealth University in 1970. She graduated with a degree in business in 1974, and left Richmond for Houston, Texas to pursue her next adventure - one that would eventually lead to 35 years of marriage and two children.        Linda excelled in her career, climbing the ranks at companies like Xerox and Ford. But her life took a turn in December 1979, when she married Alfred Woodson Jr. of Georgetown, South Carolina. She left the professional world in 1982, and gave birth to her daughter Elizabeth Woodson in July of that year. Her son Alfred Woodson III was born in January 1985. It was in the role of wife and mother that Linda made her mark on the world, while also maintaining a near superhuman balance of competing priorities. Not only did she manage the mundane day-to-day of household activities, such as maintaining the family budget, coordinating activities, caring for the children, cooking, and cleaning; she also had to contend with obstacles few other parents ever encounter. In 1989, Linda was diagnosed with a chronic and extremely debilitating autoimmune disorder. In spite of her severe health affliction, she never let the disease define her. Rather, she actively shaped the course and trajectory of her life. More importantly, she found happiness and peace in the deliberateness of living and the act of loving. Through her struggle, she deepened her relationships with God and family, never missing a beat with either. As challenging as times became, she never thought of herself as a victim; nor did she use her health as an excuse, often refusing to take privileges afforded to the disabled because, "...someone else needs them more." As a wife and mother, she became even more sacrificial and giving, displaying - in the biblical sense - a true servant's heart. Her expressive love and care was not limited to her family: friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike have been recipients of Linda's affection. People instantly felt welcomed by and attached to her. There is no shortage of people who, whether through conversation, gift, or support, have been immensely touched and profoundly affected by Linda. In this way, she meant so much to so many.  The disease never dampened Linda's inquisitive nature, which continued to lead to new adventures and personal discoveries. She was always open to different experiences. To wit, she enthusiastically marshaled two major cross-country moves - one to Maryland in 1990 and one to San Diego, California in 2004. Throughout the years, she could be found traveling to Civil War reenactments (a passion of her son's), attending high school science fairs (for which she provided more than a little help on her daughter's projects), socializing with her husband at boring business affairs, trolling the streets of San Diego as a surveyor for the United States Census Bureau, and volunteering at Scripps Memorial Hospital, oftentimes providing solace for those healthier than her. Linda was a woman of incredible faith. She was active in all of her churches, faithfully attending worship services and Bible studies, and volunteering on multiple occasions. She even taught Sunday School and directed Vacation Bible School one summer. Despite life's challenges, she maintained a close and abiding relationship with the Lord. He was her strength and inspiration. When not active, Linda read fantasy novels or watched science fiction programs. She put together puzzles daily until she entered the 21st century and embraced all-things iPad. Her tablet was always close at hand, and she frequently used it to surf Wikipedia, boning up on everything from British History to current political affairs. Unsurprisingly, her physical and emotional energy - fueled by her passion for knowledge and love of God - often exceeded that of far healthier people. No written tribute can sufficiently capture the enduring impact of Linda's life and spirit on those blessed to have known her. She lived life boldly and courageously, grounded in Christian principles. Her strength of character and positivity in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles were awe-inspiring. Her life is worthy of remembrance as her legacy will be felt by generations to come - simply because of how she chose to live. Following hip replacement surgery in 2012, Linda learned that she had lymphoma. She entered treatment for her cancer at UCLA, and valiantly battled the disease for two years. Linda succumbed on Palm Sunday 2014. Just as Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphant on this auspicious day, so too did Linda enter Heaven. She will be forever missed by Alfred Jr., her loving husband of 35 years, her daughter Elizabeth, her son Alfred III, her daughter-in-law Ashley, her siblings Sylvia Warden, Earnest Washington, Cynthia Wilson, Cassandra Hairston, and Gracie Jones, and a wealth of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends - until that day that we will all hopefully join her behind those pearly gates. Linda's life will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Friday April 25, 2014 at First Baptist Church of Woodland Hills, 5737 Fallbrook Avenue, Woodland Hills, California. There will be a luncheon hosted by the church directly following the service. The interment ceremony will be at 2:00 pm at the Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery, 22601 Lassen Street, Chatsworth, California. There will also be a viewing at the church on Thursday evening, from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. We hope that you can join us.