Linda Diane (Crow) Gilleland

Mrs. Linda Diane (Crow) Gilleland, 76 of Gainesville, GA was welcomed tenderly and peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday January 28, 2025, after a brief and unexpected illness. She was surrounded by loved ones around the clock in her final days on this earth.

Linda was born on March 19, 1948, at the Downey Hospital in Gainesville and was the daughter of the late James Edwin Crow and the late Margie Allison Crow. Linda was a lifelong resident of Hall County. She started school in Brookhaven and eventually attended Flowery Branch Elementary where she played basketball with the Flowery Branch Indians. Linda attended and graduated from South Hall High School in 1966. She, not only, was devoted to her academics, a member of the National Beta Club and served as President of the FHA but also established many great and lasting friendships. She always looked back fondly on her SHHS days and regarded it a special time in her life. Linda furthered her education and became a Master Cosmetologist in 1967 from Whit and Bobbie’s Academy of Beauty Culture in Gainesville where she began her career and worked for over 15 years.

She then went on to work with Beauty Boutique, Salon Mirage, Stylarama Beauty Salon and most recently Precision Hair Kutters. Linda displayed dedication and loyalty to her clients and enjoyed the bonds she formed over salon chair conversations. Many who began as clients became deeply connected friends with whom she shared lifelong, meaningful relationships. This is also true of her colleagues with whom she shared her life and work until retiring in 2024 after 57 years of truly loving her job.

Linda and Larry Gilleland were united in marriage at First Baptist Church Flowery Branch on November 20, 1971, and recently celebrated 53 years of a deeply loving marriage. Their dedication and devotion to each other was unmatched and a true testament to the strength and beauty of a marriage founded upon faith in God. Linda and Larry truly enjoyed life together. They loved to travel the world, break bread with friends, often staying up at night to talk, and never failed to remind each other several times throughout each and every day of their love for one another and their family. Linda made sure they honored their precious family tradition of Sunday lunches, always together around the dinner table. Her mother started this tradition some forty plus years ago and it has always been cherished as the highlight of the week.

Linda had a heart and talent for music. She began studying music at a very young age and performed her first piano recital in 3rd grade. Linda was a devoted member to her church family. During high school, she began serving at First Baptist Church Flowery Branch where she was the pianist for over 25 years. In 2000, Linda and Larry joined First Baptist Church Gainesville where she sang in the Living Christmas Tree for 22 years. She always looked forward to the kickoff of this special Christmas performance and the powerful way God blesses us through music. Linda further shared her love of music by regularly leading in singing hymns and accompanying residents of Morningside Assisted Living for many years.

In her spare time, you could always find her peacefully playing her piano. Linda was a woman of commitment. She lived out incredible loyalty to her family and friends and always took the time to love well. She was consistent in her daily walk with God and her desire to honor and serve the Lord was the foundation for how she lived. She cared deeply about the needs of others, often placing them above her own. Linda radiated positivity and optimism, even when her family walked through life’s valleys. She demonstrated love and compassion to everyone, always had a smile and was well known for the sweet words of encouragement she generously offered to all whom she encountered.

Linda is lovingly remembered by her husband of many years, Larry Gilleland, her daughter and son in law, LeAnne Gilleland Richardson and Sean Richardson, and her brother, Jerry Crow as well as their dog, Abby Gilleland and her grand dogs, Opie, Duke, and Beau Richardson. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Edwin Crow and Margie Allison Crow and her grand dog, Bailey Richardson. Linda will forever be remembered by her love for God, desire to serve His kingdom, for her unwavering generosity, her bright smile that could light up a room, her kindness, her genuine love for her family and friends, and the countless ways she brought joy to those around her. She will forever be in our hearts and in our most precious memories.

The family will receive friends from 1:00pm to 3:00pm on Saturday February 8, 2025, at Memorial Park Riverside Chapel with the Celebration of Life to follow in the Chapel at 3:00pm. Private family interment will be held at First Baptist Church Gainesville Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Linda’s memory to your preferred charitable organization.