Linda Sharp Yates, 1942 - 2009, a memorial to a champion of family history, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

A 1969 photo of the young family of Linda & Edward Yates.
From left Edward Jr., Edward Sr., Poppy (in Mom's lap), & Donald "Shell".
Our subject here is the matriarch of this family
Yates Family Gathering Christmas 2005

Linda Gale Sharp Yates shown in the above photo as the matriarch,  and also in many of the family reunions on this web site, has passed away from Pulmonary Fibrosis. She will be missed by family, cousins, and a wide circle of friends. She spent untold hours in the production of publications to leave behind a trail for posterity to know something of this & past generations; and also active to efforts to keep descending kin abreast of happenings & accomplishments of current generations.  
While we are not aware of all of her efforts we can relate some of the more formal ones:

(1) "Turner-Austin-Sharp Newsletter" a descending family annual news letter.
(2) The book; "Sharp and other related Families."
(3) Contributing about 20% of the content for this growing web site "Mid Tennessee Cousins and Reunions"
(4) Contributing hundreds of photos and listings to the site Maury County Tennessee Cemeteries.
(5) Several Photos for the web site "Maury County School History prior to 1940" which is about old school historical writings & photos with name labeling of Maury County, Tennessee. 
(6) Manuscripts, photos and records of other families she was connected with which were never published in a formal way still in the possession of her family.

Linda was well supported by her family & siblings in all her efforts sharing with them work from her projects as everyone dove in to help her.
Below is a tribute to Linda who was active with me across the Internet (Wayne Austin) in many projects:
Though not a formal programmer, she was versed in all phases of computer and Internet publication & a great photographer. She had good perception of what the final published outcome should look like with a rare all around graphics skill set.
She understood very well that there is a chance that we can leave behind more & better publications about the current & past generations thru books and the new Internet Medium; that is to know past and current peoples a little better than the usual name, date and tombstone inscription including other incomplete & error prone information we found in the past. 

Her Obituary:
Linda Gale Sharp Yates, Age 66, of Murfreesboro, passed away Friday, January 16, 2009. She was born in Nashville 14 February 1942 and the youngest of the seven children of James Washington & Ruby Media (Turner) Sharp. She was a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy, author of the 2009 book "Sharp and Related Families". She was a loving example of humanity and will be missed by all who knew her. Her Family History preservation works will long be known n descending family and other circles.

Ms. Yates was preceded in death by her parents, James W. and Ruby M. Sharp; daughter, Shelly Deann Yates; brother, James Sharp; and sister, Hilda Overstreet.

She was survived by her children, Edward Yates of Louisville, KY, Donald Yates (Karen) of Roy, WA, and Poppy Yates Carr (Warren) of Murfreesboro; six grandchildren, Samuel, Kaitlyn, Madalyn, D.T., Nate, and Eden; brothers, Donald Sharp of Brentwood, and David Sharp of Oregon; and sisters, Anne Cole of Brentwood, Neuva Sears of Mississippi, and Carolyn Hicks of Huntsville, AL.

The family received friends from 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Monday at the Spring Hill Funeral Home in Nashville.  Funeral services were conducted at 1:00 P.M. Monday in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Ronnie Pittenger officiating. Burial followed in the Spring Hill Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee. For those of you that don't know Spring Hill Cemetery is where the family of Uncle Homer Austin is interred a relative of Linda from previous generations.

Spring Hill Funeral Home, (615) 865-1101, www.springhillfh.com

Photo from the Linda Yates family files. As written 28 Jan 2009 by Wayne Austin after Linda passed from her earthly journey.