Linda Raye Laney

Linda Raye Hensley Laney, age 64, of #215 Parkview Drive, Cartersville, Georgia passed away at her home on Monday morning, January 2nd, 2012 after a long illness. She was surrounded by her family and friends.

A native of Whitfield County, Georgia, Linda was born on April 20th, 1947, the daughter of Leonard Edward Hensley and the late Ruby Sue Thomas Hensley. She had been a resident of Cartersville since 1987 moving there from Rome and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Cartersville, Georgia, and the Crosstalk Sunday School Class. Linda was a founding member of the Ladies Praise Bible study and served in almost every capacity of church committees. Linda was a 1965 graduate of Murray County High School, a 1967 graduate of Reinhardt College, a 1969 graduate of Shorter College, in 1982 received her Masters of Education from West Georgia College and in 1984 Specialist in Early Childhood Education from West Georgia College. As an elementary teacher she taught in all grades k-4 with a special gift for teachering 1st grade. Schools that Linda taught in were Emerson Elementary, Model Elementary, Pepperell Elementary and Mission Road Elementary. Her passion was believing that every child that she taught was her gift and that they were unlimited in what they could achieve in life. She said many times, "I was blessed to have been a teacher; it was my dream from the time I was a small child. And that dream never changed." In retirement, her hobbies were expanded to her garden, water sports, travel and especially to her grandchildren. Please celebrate the gift of life as she is honored in this moment in time.

Linda was preceded in death by her mother, the late Ruby Sue Hensley of Chatsworth, GA., her maternal grandparents, Violet Hall and Samuel Thomas of Dalton, GA, paternal grandparents Hattie Osborn Hensley and John William Hensley of Chatsworth, GA, and her father-in-law, James A. Laney Sr. of Shannon, GA.

Linda is survived by her husband of 44 years, James (Jim) Allard Laney Jr. of Cartersville, GA; her sons, James (Jayme) Allard Laney III and wife Kristy Mealer Laney of Adairsville, GA and Joshua Ray Laney and wife Stephanie Allgood Laney of Adairsville, GA; grandchildren: Lauren Elizabeth Laney, Hensley Mae Laney, Matthew David Laney, Hayden Bryce Laney and Maxwell Hayes Laney all of Adairsville, GA. She is also, survived by her father, Leonard Edward Hensley of Chatsworth and her brother Rodney Thomas Hensley (Jan), also of Chatsworth; her mother-in-law, Eva Mae Lee Laney, brother and sister-in-law, Thomas Wayne Laney and Regina Gaines Laney all of Shannon, GA; Nieces Darcy Danielle Laney Liddle (Chad), Jessica Palmer Laney Carney (Kyle), and a nephew Seth Thomas Laney (Jennifer), and a number of grand-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Linda Raye Hensley Laney will be held on Friday afternoon, January 6th, 2012, at 3 o'clock from the Parkview Chapel of Fred Talley's Funeral Home in Rome, Georgia with the Rev. Mike Morgan, the Rev. Larry Russell and the Rev. Skip Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Rush Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Linda will be carried to the Trinity United Methodist Church in Cartersville, Georgia (814 West Avenue) on Thursday evening where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8:30 p.m. The family will also receive friends at Fred Talley's Parkview Chapel Funeral Home on Friday afternoon from 2 until 3 o'clock. At other hours the family will be at the residence in Cartersville, Georgia.

The following will serve as active pallbearers, Benny Huggins, Marty Morgan, Dan Pittman, Jim Riley, Jack Yates, Tony Bramlett and Tommy Jones. Honorary pallbearers include, Ladell Mealer, Clay Roberts, Johnny Kennedy, Terry Allgood, Bob Henderson and Larry Roberts.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions in honor of Linda made be made to the Rush Chapel United Methodist Church, 1225 Rush Chapel Road, NE, Adairsville, Georgia, or The Adairsville First United Methodist Church, 102 South Main Street, Adairsville, Georgia, or the Trinity United Methodist Church in Cartersville, Georgia (814 West Avenue) or the Bridge United Methodist Church in Cartersville, Georgia.

Please join the family in honoring the life of Linda Raye Hensley Laney by visiting www.talleysparkviewchapel.com and posting your tributes and memories.

Fred Talley and the staff of Fred Talley's Parkview Chapel Funeral Home of Rome, Georgia (706-291-9472) is serving the family of Linda Raye Hensley Laney.