February 9, 1949 – May 21, 2019
On February 9th, 1949, Linda Jean Benner Parker was born to LaVerne Benner and William Terry in St. Paul. She was the eldest sibling.
At the age of 12 Linda became a born-again Christian. She attended St. James A.M.E. Church in St. Paul, Bethel A.M.E. Church in Buffalo, New York, and St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
As a young girl she enjoyed ice skating and running, and performed in a singing group called the Gospel Pearls. Linda always had dreams of being a flight attendant and moving to sunny California to see the warm beach. She moved out to San Francisco with her life-long ‘sister-friends’ Pamela Boone and Marla Minor. Just like the tides pulling back and forth at the beach, Linda went back and forth from California to Minnesota several times over the years. She had grown a fond hobby of understanding her family history and craved to understand the Benner diaspora.
Linda was preceded in death by her mother LaVerne Benner and father William Terry.
Linda leaves behind her sisters Carmita Oakley and Rose Terry, brother Carlton Benner and Bob Terry; her sons Troy Carter (Judy) and Ahmad Carter, and daughter Jade Parker; and bonus-mom loved-ones Denise Smith (Kenneth), Trey Parker, Greg Parker (Evelyn), and Daimon Alegre-Parker. She is also survived by a host of grandchildren: Robert Smith (Moksha), Robyn Hawkins (Dominique), T.J. Haag (Rylee), Teneisha Parker, Jasmine Carter, Damani Price, Jaiden Alegre-Parker, Travis Carter, Cierrah Ross, Donovan Carter, Lauren Ross and Liam Ross, and great-grandchild Jalen Hawkins. Linda also leaves behind many cousins, nephews, nieces, and sister-friends.
Fond memories will forever linger in the hearts of those who loved and knew Linda. She will be missed, but we are at peace knowing that she is free, dancing in the arms of her heavenly Father.
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