Linda Ann Hester Henson

Linda was born, Linda Ann Hester on October 27, 1959, to Earl R. Hester (deceased)
and Audrey L. Hester (deceased). She was the youngest of four children, having three older
brothers, Daniel E. Hester, Paul L. Hester, and David O.Hester (deceased).
From an early age Linda struggled with substance abuse. An energetic woman with a
flair for cosmetology, she birthed three daughters, Christina Nelson, Catrina Woodard, and
Jennifer Wood. When she was sober, she was an attentive, caring, and loving mother. When
she was using, the girls were brought up by their elderly grandmother. Eventually the girls grew
up determined to be more than their mother, and had children of their own, James Galloway,
Audralyn Galloway, Jordan Galloway, Caliann Hawkins, Isaac Hawkins, Aiden Hawkins,
Rosalyn Woodard, Edison Woodard, Lincoln Woodard, Henrietta Woodard due June 2017,
Amina Tirioui, Adam Wood, Zakari Wood, and baby Wood due October 2017. She also had the
joy of becoming a great grandmother to Joselyn Galloway, Clark (Finn) Reynolds, and Lelia
Styles due September 2017.
Linda started to feel the effects of years and years of drug and alcohol abuse. Her body
had endured much and was breaking down. She adored the role of grandmother and loved her
grandchildren and great grandchildren very much. She bragged to anyone who would listen
about them.
Although she loved all these people listed above, she loved the drugs and alcohol more.
Linda finally succumbed to this fatal attraction on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 3, 2017.
Her children and grandchildren are left wondering why. Why wasn’t our love enough to
fight the urges of the drugs? Why were our smiles and hugs not enough to fill the void? Was the
will to live and see your grandchildren grow up not enough? You were one of the most stubborn
strongest women we have ever known, but it wasn’t enough.
Drug addiction is not a disease that needs a cure. It is a choice. A matter of willpower.
An epidemic of bad choices. A choice some have the willpower to overcome and some like our
mother, do not. It is sad.
We will love you for eternity. We will miss you. We will heal, but not forget. We are the
women we are today because of you. We are the mothers we are because of you. The
situations you put us in and through made us strong enough to resist the choices you made.
You knew this. This made you proud. Your mistakes made us stronger, and we have this to
pass down to our children and hopefully their children.
A small memorial service will be held at 607 Emily Lane, Piedmont, SC 29673 on
Sunday May 14, 2017 between 4pm-6pm at the Pavilion behind the clubhouse.