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Obituary: LINDA DOWNEY HARRIS

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Linda Kay Downey Harris, 78, went to be with her Lord on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, after a brief battle with kidney infection.

A Celebration of Her Life will be conducted at 11:00 AM Saturday, September 16, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Reidsville. A reception will follow immediately in the fellowship hall of the church. A native of Asheville, she was a daughter of the late Edward Guy Downey and Ruth Eller Downey.

She received her undergraduate and master’s degree from UNC Greensboro where she was a strong advocate for the civil rights movement. She and husband, Ronald Keith Harris settled in Reidsville in 1973 and never wanted to leave. She enjoyed investing her life in this community over the past 50+ years. Linda was a former Home Economics teacher at Morehead High School. She served as the state[1]wide Food Services Coordinator for the N.C. 4 H camps and as a Parent Trainer with the Rockingham County Head Start Program. Linda was a member of First Baptist Church of Reidsville where she sang in the choir and volunteered in many roles. Linda loved to read so much that she was a member of 2 community Book Clubs continuously for over 45 years. She was a member of the Reidsville Historic Preservation Commission, the Reidsville Downtown Development Corporation, the Theatre Guild, and the Community Choir. She loved supporting local businesses and local artists.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband.

Surviving is her son: Ronald Keith Harris, Jr (Emily) of Greensboro and her daughter: Laura Harris Hoffman (Scott) of Newton, NC, her sisters: Mary Ann Downey of Atlanta, GA and Carolyn Downey of Asheville, grandchildren: Ehver Harris, Elijah Harris, Justin Hoffman (Racie), Jason Hoffman (Rachel), Joel Hoffman (Aniyah), Joshua Hoffman (Chasity), Jonathan Hoffman, Leya Hoffman,and Joseph Hoffman. and great grandchildren: Judah Hoffman, Joseph Hoffman, Wren Hoffman, Abigail Hoffman, Ezra Hoffman, Exodus Hoffman, and Kallum Hoffman.

The family will receive friends on Sept. 15, 2023, from 5:30 till 7:30 PM at Linda’s home. Contact Citty Funeral Home for details.

To offer condolences go to www.cittyfh.com.

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Linda’s faith in Jesus and love for literacy, the family requests that memorial gifts be sent to First Baptist Church Reidsville at 409 S. Main St.Reidsville, NC 27320 or the Reidsville Public Library 204 West Morehead St. Reidsville, NC 27320.

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