With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Linda James Hallman, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She left this world too soon on January 18, 2024 at age 74.She was born to Joseph and Evelyn Smith James on June 6, 1949 in Chester, South Carolina. The family ultimately moved to Decatur, GA where Linda graduated from Druid Hills High School. She went on to achieve her Bachelor of Arts degree in History at Georgia Southwestern College, where she was a cheerleader and a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. During this time, she also won the title of Miss Americus and was a contestant in the Miss Georgia pageant in 1970. She married post-graduation from college to Wayne Jones and moved to Tifton, GA where she taught History and worked with Special Ed children for years. During the 1970s decade, she had three children: Shannon, Bert and Rayna. In 1991 she married David Hallman from Eatonton, Georgia, and became part of this lovely town’s community. Tragically, less than a year after they married, her beloved son Bert was killed in an automobile accident in May of 1992.
Linda and David would go on to create a beautiful home in the countryside, known by her family and friends as “The Farm”. It was during this time that Linda’s creative imagination and talents truly emerged in multiple ways. She was an accomplished artist and painted numerous beautiful murals, various depictions of people of diverse cultures, as well as humorous canvas caricatures of both animals and inanimate objects - all representative of her unique inventiveness. Most people are probably not aware that the quote, “laughter is the best medicine” is derived from a Bible verse, Proverbs 17:22. This was especially applicable to her as Linda’s family, friends, and especially her grandchildren were blessed to be the recipients (and sometimes the target) of the gift of her wonderful sense of humor which brought laughter and joy to so many. Linda’s artistry extended to her creation of “Ooh La La Lavender Farm” in 2012 - 2018 which combined fields of lavender grown at “The Farm”, festivals over the years that incorporated products made from the lavender, tours on hayrides, vendors and food trucks, along with the Hallman’s farm animals and activities for children of all ages. Multiple events and weddings have been hosted over the years at their beautiful property as well as online articles that were written from various sources about the lavender farm. Linda is preceded in death by her son, Herbert Wayne Jones, Jr. She is survived by her husband, David; her daughters, Shannon (Greg) Duclos, Rayna (Stephen) Schein; grandsons Jonah Duclos; Bryce, Luke and Owen Filson; William and Lawrence Schein; her sister, Sandie (David) Adams, brother Joe James, sister Sybil James Ellis; and her many nieces and nephews. All of whom she loved and touched deeply. Visitation will be held at Liberty Chapel Church, 269 Milledgeville Road, Eatonton, GA on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 12 noon to 2 pm, after which time please join us in a celebration of Linda’s life in the Chapel. Interment will be at the Hallman’s Farm, 217 Tanyard Road, Eatonton, GA
