Linda Darnell Sloan

After a lifetime of faithful service to her Lord and her family, Linda Darnell Sloan, 83, was called home peacefully to the loving embrace of her beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday evening, November 19, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida. A true prayer warrior in every sense, Linda lifted up her family and friends in prayer before the throne of God daily. She kept detailed, handwritten prayer journals stretching back over five decades. Through her writings, her children marvel at the treasure trove of prayers she prayed over them from the time they were small, tracing the protective hand of God upon their lives throughout the years. Linda dated every prayer, petition, and insight, not only in her journal, but also in the margins of her well-worn Bible. She leaves behind a precious story and legacy of her faith walk, told through her journals, autobiography, and poetry. Linda was born Linda Darnell White on January 23, 1942, in Dothan, Alabama, to Bascom and Mildred White. Growing up in Headland, Alabama, Linda was the oldest of four siblings: Kenneth White, Karan (White) Brady, and Penny Jo White. In 1948 at the tender age of six, Linda felt drawn to the Lord, often walking a half mile by herself to Sunday School along the dusty roads of rural Alabama. Her father would follow at a distance to make sure she was safe, and eventually, the entire family started going to church because her parents did not want her walking alone. Linda’s childhood faith led her family to becoming regular church goers, and her father later became a deacon and a faithful pillar in the church. The entire trajectory of her family’s path in life was influenced by Linda’s childhood faith. At the age of 12½, Linda grew old enough to understand that she was a sinner in need of grace. She prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized. In her writings later in life, she reflects that she felt extra close to the Lord during those years, as if He were standing right next to her. She built upon those early years and continued to live a life of faithfulness as she grew older. After graduating from Headland High School in 1960 and Troy State College in 1964, Linda performed mission work in the southwestern United States and then attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. It was there where she met her future husband, Fred A. Sloan of McLeansboro, Illinois. They dated for one year and were married on August 7, 1965. Linda became a certified teacher and taught third grade for two years until Fred graduated in 1967. That same year, they began a new chapter in their lives when she and Fred moved to Gainesville, Florida, where Fred was called to serve as the Minister of Education at North Central Baptist Church. As a minister’s wife for the next 29 years, Linda taught Sunday School, mostly to adults, but she also taught children in Vacation Bible School for several summers. In 1968, Linda and Fred started their family, raising three children—Mark, Alicia, and Deanna—whom they deeply loved, cherished, and nurtured. Together, Linda and Fred poured themselves into their children and modeled the very definition of love and service, and all three children are forever in a debt of gratitude. As a wife and mother, Linda learned to pray without ceasing. Her entire life became an ongoing prayer—truly yoked to the Lord day by day, fully believing that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Whenever she would be burdened by the worries and cares of this world, she would pray, casting her cares upon the Lord, knowing that He cares for her. She trusted Him fully and completely and leaned upon His word, claiming promises of protection, provision, and blessings for her family and others. One day in the early 1970s, as Linda was worrying about her children’s safety, the Lord gave her a promise that she would claim over her children for the rest of her life¬—Isaiah 49:25b: “I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.” She was so amazed by this verse, she adopted it as her lifelong verse and prayed it over her children every day of their lives. It appears frequently in her writings, especially appearing at the end of her prayers concerning her children’s welfare. The family is convinced that her prayers for her son, an Air Force officer, kept him out of the most dangerous warzones in the Middle East during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Three times his orders came through for a warzone destination, and three times his orders were canceled at the last minute. The margins of her Bible recently revealed her consistent prayers for him during this time. She held the Lord to His promise of protection for her children, fully assured that God was more than able and willing and happy and eager to keep His promise to her. Linda captured not only her prayers on paper, but many other writings as well. In 2003, she recorded her childhood memories in a book-length series of vignettes reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie. These delightful sketches provide a wonderful primary source of historical snapshots of farm life in rural Alabama in the 1940s and ’50s, as seen through the eyes of her childhood wonder. Not only are the memories interesting to read about, but they are told in a very captivating and entertaining way, sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, always poignant. After reading her autobiography, you would feel as if you had just visited her, sitting with her in the front porch swing with no particular place to go, listening to her share her stories unhurriedly with you and only you, her new best friend. Her writing style is personable and her friendliness evident, for she was a kind and genuine friend to all. It’s no wonder she was voted the friendliest girl in her high school class three years in a row. In addition to her prayer journals and autobiography, Linda was a prolific poet. She wrote several hundred poems, all in rhymed verse, over more than three decades. She was an excellent steward of the writing talent that the Lord had given her, and she used it faithfully to glorify Him. Many of her poems richly express her deep love for the Lord and her desire to be with Him one day. Other poems are funny and are meant to entertain lightheartedly. She had a clever way of expressing herself and could write for both adults and children. The poems meant for children are fun and downright silly! The majority of her poems were written and mailed to a very dear friend over the course of thirty years. They often wrote to each other almost daily, even though they both lived in Gainesville. Linda’s friend would mail handmade cards to her, and Linda would reciprocate with clever and often hilarious one-of-a-kind poems written specifically for her friend. Linda did not always keep copies of her poems and usually mailed the original copy. When her friend passed away in 2021, Linda was gifted with a massive collection of poems from her dear friend’s family, who returned all of them to Linda. Her dear friend had kept every single poem for thirty years, and Linda’s children were incredibly grateful to receive back this treasure trove of their mother’s original copies, without which no one would know of their existence or the depths of Linda’s poetic talent. After 83 years of a life well-lived, well-loved, and well-nurturing, Linda finished the race, having fought the good fight of faith. She was finally called home to the embrace of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at 9:13 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida. She was surrounded by her loving family over the course of many days, who sang hymns and read scripture and even her own poetry to her. Even at the point of death, she was attending church in spirit. The peace-filled atmosphere was full of love, hope, and the joyous promise of a new life. Although her family is saddened by her absence, they rejoice that she is in the presence of her loving Savior, who set her apart and called her by name before she was born, as a witness for Christ to a lost and dying world. They also rejoice that this separation is only temporary, for death has been defeated through the power of the Cross and the Blood of the Lamb, and they will see their beloved sister, mother, and grandmother again. Until that joyous day comes, her family will miss her tremendously, though their hearts are flooded with God’s grace, mercy, strength, and love, as well as His peace that surpasses understanding every time they think of their precious Linda. All who had the honor and privilege to meet Linda never left the same, and those who knew her remember her for her loving servant’s heart, positive can-do spirit, and faithful prayers. She never let an opportunity to pray for someone pass her by, and everyone who came to her for prayer left knowing that her prayers would be echoing in God’s ear for a long time. Though we may not fully understand on this side of heaven what her prayers accomplished, one day every jewel in her crown will tell the story of her love for her Lord Jesus Christ, her family, and her church. Linda is preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Fred A. Sloan, who passed in 2022; her parents, Bascom and Mildred White; her brother, Kenneth White; and an unborn child and unborn grandchild, both lost through miscarriage. She is survived by two beloved sisters, Karan White Brady (Gene) of Dothan, Alabama, and Penny Jo White of Headland, Alabama, as well as her three loving children, who love and treasure their mother greatly: Retired USAF Colonel Mark Allan Sloan (Linda Olexa) of Roswell, Georgia; Mrs. Alicia Carol Sloan Chin (Rick) of Gainesville, Florida; and Mrs. Deanna Lynn Sloan Hatfield (John) of DeLand, Florida. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Victoria Chin, Joshua Hatfield, Jonathan Hatfield, Katelynn Hatfield, Savannah Hatfield, Jason Hatfield, and Emma Hatfield, plus several beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. A private, family-only burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025. Afterward, public visitation with the family will be at 10:00 a.m. at North Central Baptist Church, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Dr. Calvin J. Carr. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donating to Linda’s GoFundMe page to help with her medical bills and funeral expenses. The page can be found using either link below or by going to GoFundMe.com and searching under “Linda Sloan.” Thank you and God bless. https://gofund.me/3720ca641 https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-cover-linda-sloans-medical-and-funeral-costs.

Linda Darnell Sloan

January 23, 1942 - November 19, 2025