Those were the first words from Scott B. Smith, Jr when he reached me on the phone earlier this afternoon.
He wanted to inform me and all who knew her that Linda Dehnad, his wife, died this morning of undetermined causes at age 69. Linda went to Jackson Hospital in Montgomery, AL last night because she was suffering from severe stomach pain. It happened to be her and Scott B's wedding anniversary. Exteremely frustrated and at her wits end after waiting for more than five hours to have her pain treated and her condition addressed, Linda asked Scott B to take her home around 9:30 PM. Scott B took care of Linda through the night; he fell asleep for a couple of hours at about 4 AM. When he woke up again at about 6 AM, Linda was dead.
Scott B said, "Linda came back to Montgomery with me to work with the people of Lowndes County. Though she was treated badly, she loved Lowndes County. Linda was a warrior. She never stopped trying to work with people. Anything she could do: she was doing it. She was concerned about the children. When she was teaching and was asked to use corporal punishment, Linda said, 'I am not a slave owner. I am a teacher.'"
In her last years, Linda had ongoing pain from fibromyalgia. Lindaremained a gifted writer, teacher and photographer and a committed activist. She taught and mentored many, many people, including me (Ben).
Linda has requested that she be cremated. There will be a memorial service on Sunday, July 2, at the Unity Baptist Church in White Hall, Lowndes, County, AL. Church service begins at 11:00 a.m. Memorial service begins at 12:30 p.m.
Scott B welcomes phone calls, email and postal mail with condolences or memories of Linda. He would also welcome financial assistance to pay for Linda's autopsy. You can reach Scott B by phone at 334-262-7547. His mailing address is 2010 McKinley Avenue, Montogmery, AL 36107. His email address is scottbsmith_jr at yahoo dot com.
UPDATE#1 (6/28): I made a mistake on Scott B's phone number. Area code is 334, not what I had before. The number, above, is now correct.
UPDATE#2 (6/28): There is now a time for the memorial service, added above.
~
Read an interview/conversation with Linda Dehnad and her fellow Civil Rights Movement veterans, Jimmy Rogers and Bruce Hartford.
BLOG POSTS
COMMENTS
PODCASTS
Hello, Ben.
I came over from Rachel’s Tavern to pay a visit.
You have a wonderful site.
Thanks so much for the information on Ms. Linda Dehnad’s passing. I will send an e-mail of condolence to her husband, Mr. Scott B. Smith today.
It is so easy for many of us to forget all the many brave men and women, black and white, who came together to fight for the rights of black people in their struggle to obtain the most basic of human rights so long denied them.
Even to this day, I have not forgotten them, Viola, Vernon, Medger, Fannie, Ella and so many I can name.
I owe them all a debt which I can never pay, and as the right to vote was the most precious thing in the world to them, I never let my chance to exercise my right to vote pass me by.
For if not for all the sacrifices all those wonderful people did, today, I still would not have the right to vote.
I thank them all, God rest their souls.
Ann, thanks for your comments and your sympathy. Rachel has a great site, so it’s always nice to get some of her readers over here.
Ben.
Thans for taking up for me over at Rachel’s.
I also support the men and women who wear the uniform to defend our country against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
And I do not need to tear down and disparage another poster just because they voice a different viewpoint from me. It is one thing to voice a different view; it is another to show extreme stupidity and disrespect. The question Rachel posed was in essence what do you hold true that is good of America, and I stated my answer.
That this tombstone person felt it had to attack me, said mountains about her/his lack of knowledge of tomorrow’s holiday:
July the 4TH.
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Not slavery day; not fascism day; not nazism day. Not my way, and you are wrong day.
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Anyway, Ben, have a great and safe Fourth of July!