The world lost a shinning light September 28, 2026. Linda Dianne Stephens (Jackson) was born August 2nd, 1942 to parents Esther Persianna Jackson (Stiteler) and Larry Don Jackson of Smithville Texas. Following the Mobil Pipeline, Linda would boast that she went to 29 different schools by the 8th grade, including 6 months in Paris, France while her father worked there. Linda graduated from Aldine High School in Houston, TX in 1960 before going to college at Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. There she met an Arkansas boy named Don and knew he was the one for her when he drove his convertible Triumph TR3 down the sidewalk in front of her sorority house to pick her up for their first date. After dating for a while, they decided to elope after a football game in 1961 in Hot Springs Arkansas and soon after started a family. With moves following the pipeline like her father, they had three boys in three different states; Don Jr., Larry, and Lindsay. Linda was a Homemaker by choice and God knew she had to be tough to raise her three boys. And tough she was but the most compassionate and loving mother anyone could ask for. Her husband Don worked for Mobil Pipeline for 30 years before retiring in 1994. In 2000, once worrying about children and making sure they got out of the nest, Don and Linda moved to their retirement home at the family farm in Smithville, TX where they stayed until their health no longer allowed them to take care of the land and animals, donkeys to be exact, which they loved and named like children. Linda was always active in their local church and was a Sunday School Teacher at both First Baptist Church in Hull, Texas and First Baptist Church in Smithville, Texas.

Linda’s style always drew your eye her direction and you could guarantee it had either something sparkling or animal print in it. A true Southern Belle with sayings like “Bless their heart” and referring to most people as “Precious” in her vocabulary. She will be missed by all who knew her and those who knew her loved her for the strong, loving, giving, and compassionate, Christian woman she was.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents Esther Persianna Jackson and Larry Don Jackson. She will be leaving behind to cherish her memory: Don Willoughby Stephens, Sr., her Husband of 64 years and 10 months, just 2 months shy of making her goal of 65 years; Sons: Don Willoughby Stephens, Jr. and wife April of Smithville, TX, Larry Dan Stephens of Smithville TX, and Lindsay Dean Stephens of Angleton, TX; Grandchildren: Banyon Stephens of Hardin, TX, Don Willoughby Stephens, III (Donovan) and wife Amanda of Hardin, TX, Shelby Collins and Husband Austin of Hardin, TX, Andrew Stephens and wife Amber of Smithville, TX, Garrett Stephens of Smithville, TX; 8 Great Grandchildren; and a host of Ex-Daughter-in-Law’s whom she still loved dearly.

Services to celebrate Linda's life will be Monday, October 5, 2026 at the First Baptist Church of Smithville.

Visitation will begin at 10:00am and the Funeral will begin at 11:00am with burial following at Oak Hill Cemetery.