On November 5, 2025, Linda Hartzog Stringer passed from this life into God's presence at the age of 93 after being lovingly cared for by her devoted children.

Her services will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at New Hope Baptist Church in Foxworth, MS. Visitation will be from 9:00am to 12:45pm with her Celebration of Life and Going Home services starting at 1:00pm. Linda will be carried to her final resting place by her seven grandsons, who are honored to serve as pallbearers. Tony Breland will be an honorary pallbearer.

On May 22, 1932, Linda prematurely entered this world in the Little Improve community of Sandy Hook, MS. Even as a little girl, Linda made each of her days count. From washing dishes in a large pot on a cold oven door to babysitting to earn fabric to make her own dresses to helping her daddy in the fields, she helped her family in every way she could. At Dexter High School, the coach recognized her athletic ability and played her on the boys' basketball team, since there was no girls' team at that time.

Upon graduating in 1951, Linda met the love of her life, Everett Stringer, at a friend's party. He was so in awe of her beauty he asked whether she was wearing fake eyelashes, but she didn't even know what those were at that time! Their meeting helped Linda to make the decision for her future, to forego college and a degree in Home Economics, to create a home and family of her own.

Everett and Linda married on July 4, 1951, and with a lot of love began building their large life and family in a small home on their dairy farm in the New Hope community. Linda raised her family based on a faith-filled life nestled around New Hope Baptist Church, where she was a lifelong member. There she taught various classes while playing softball, winning cook-offs, and enjoying lifelong friendships.

After her children were older, she and Everett traveled throughout the United States, from Washington D.C. to Hawaii. They also enjoyed serving on mission trips from Alaska to Honduras. She would always come back home to help coordinate and enjoy the multiple activities of her beloved children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A true artist in homemaking, she greatly enjoyed designing and running her home to be an open and welcoming gathering place for others to come connect and catch up.

As a pillar of the community, many knew Linda and her family as the years and generations continued to grow.

In her free time, Linda enjoyed visiting others, fishing, tending her vegetable and flower gardens, sewing, and shopping with family and friends.

Throughout her long life, Linda's faith never wavered. She proudly proclaimed Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, and she consistently acknowledged how God had blessed her so abundantly time and time again.

Even in hard times, Linda always tried her best to find a positive way to share God's love to encourage and help others who needed it in whatever way she could from cooking one of her wonderful meals—complete with her delicious homemade biscuits, jelly, and tomato gravy—to lending a helping hand. Our Queen constantly showed us how to live life to its fullest, even in small ways; hold onto family; and most importantly be a light of God's love. May we all carry these lessons forth within us to help continue her legacy.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Everett Stringer; her parents, Alfred and Stella Hartzog; her siblings and their spouses, Letha Gray (Jim), Melvin Hartzog (Louise), Lucious Hartzog (Georgia), Felder Hartzog (Maxine), Charlie Ben Hartzog (Patsy), Daisy Thomas (Berlie), Clara Hartzog; and daughter-in-law, Peggy Davis Stringer.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are her seven children: son Everett Alan "Pud" Stringer (Lucy), daughter Wanda Morgan (Ken), daughter Vicky Wesley (David), daughter Debbie Stringer (R.L.), daughter Tammy Haney (Michael), son Sedgie (Kathy), and daughter Melinda Trahan (Michael); a brother, Tony Breland (Carol); and a sister-in-law, Theomae Stringer.

Her beloved grandchildren include Krystal Morgan, April Crozier (Kevin), Krae Morgan (Maggie), Matthew Wesley (Amanda), Dustin Stringer (Shelley), Grant Wesley, Lauren Gillis (Scott), Halee Reed (Jeremy), Evan Stringer (Makayla), Shannon Loftin (Ryan), Tanner Trahan, Treves Trahan (Allison), Brooke (Branan) Southerland, and Drew (Amy) Rainer.

Her great-grandchildren are

Skylar and Taylor Graves; Cole, Daleigh, Davison, and Declan Crozier; Collin Haney, Cayde and Sykes Loftin; Brayden and Jackson Stringer; Madison and Andrew Reed; Kenedy Morgan; Shelbie Klaire, Ella, and Lane Stringer; Lucy and Jake Wesley; Will and Sarah Gillis; Natalie and Patrick Southerland; and Peyton and Jackson Rainer.

She will be missed by a host of nieces and nephews.

The love and kindness of Linda's community has been awe-inspiring. The family is humbled by and grateful for the outpouring of support and abundance of prayers over the past few years, especially these past few days.

The family would like to express their thanks to all—especially Chan Magee and Vadie Bridges, her excellent caregivers provided by Pure Touch Home Care; Dr. Jeffrey Johnson and the Internal Medicine Clinic staff; the Marion General Hospital staff; and the staff of Hathorn Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to New Hope Baptist Church's "Operation Christmas Child Fund."