Linda Fortenberry
With broken hearts, deep love, and endless gratitude, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Linda Fortenberry, who passed away on May 10, 2026, at the age of 77 in Daleville, Va.
Born on December 29, 1948, in Charleston, West Virginia, to Frank Marquis and Daisy Marie Price, Linda lived a life that was anything but ordinary. She was loving, adventurous, fiercely strong, witty, funny, beautifully sassy, and completely unforgettable. She believed life was meant to be lived boldly, fully, and unapologetically — and that is exactly how she lived hers.
For more than 40 years, Linda served as a Registered Nurse, dedicating her life to caring for others. Nursing was more than a profession to her — it was a reflection of who she was at her core: compassionate, resilient, nurturing, and selfless. Her giving spirit reached far beyond healthcare through volunteer work transporting rescue dogs, supporting the Tennessee Aviation Museum, and contributing to the American Legion.
She found joy in traveling the world, loving animals, celebrating America, shopping trips, laughter with friends and family, and never passing up a good crème brûlée. She chased experiences, cherished connections, and created memories that will live on in the hearts of everyone fortunate enough to know her.
But if you asked Linda what mattered most, the answer would always be family. Her greatest pride, deepest purpose, and most cherished accomplishment were her daughters, Amanda and Jennifer, and her beloved grandson, Jace. She loved fiercely, protected deeply, and celebrated every milestone, victory, and memory right alongside them. She was not only our mother — she was our safe place, our encourager, our partner in adventure, our source of strength, and our forever home.
Linda was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dick Fortenberry. She is survived by her loving daughters, Amanda Clary and Jennifer Ball; her cherished grandson, Jace Clary; her siblings, Jeanne, Chuck, Jack, and Cathy; and many extended family members, dear friends, colleagues, and countless people whose lives were touched by her compassion, humor, and unmistakable spirit.
Though we are heartbroken by her absence, we choose to celebrate her incredible life — not defined by her final chapter, but by the countless beautiful pages that came before it. We will see her in every sunset, every adventure, every laugh shared around a table, every act of compassion, every animal rescued, and perhaps… in every bird that pauses nearby to remind us that love never truly leaves us.
Mom, thank you for teaching us how to live courageously, love fiercely, and find joy in the journey. You were truly an angel in the shape of our mom, and we will carry your love, your laughter, and your adventurous spirit with us forever. “To know Linda was to know love, strength, laughter, And a women who never gave up and truly lived life to the fullest!” Join us for the Celebration and Ash Scattering Ceremony July 17, 2027 12:00 - 5:00 pm 307 N Bay Blvd Anna Maria, Florida 34216 RSVP 912-659-5343 May 1, 2027
