LINDA HALLAM Obituary

HALLAM--Linda Sanders. Funeral services for Linda Sanders Hallam of Gainesville, FL, formerly of Des Moines, IA, and formally of Morrow, LA, will be held at 11:00am Saturday, April 2, 2011. The service will take place at the Big Cane Baptist Church, Big Cane, LA,with the Rev. Joseph Bordelon officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home of Bunkie. Mrs. Hallam, 59, passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Her parents, Richard and Annetta Foster Sanders, preceded her. Survivors include her husband Stephen Hallam of Gainesville; her two sons, Dallas Hallam and wife Michelle of Los Angeles, CA, and Steven Forrest Hallam of Des Moines, IA; and her siblings, Susan Riemer and husband Owen of Morrow, and Dorothy Boger and husband William of Washington, D.C. and their families. Mrs. Hallam was born in Alexandria, LA in 1951 and graduated with distinction from Louisiana State University in 1973. In 1974 she entered the LSU master's program in journalism, and was quickly hired as a reporter for The Clarion-Ledger newspaper in Jackson, MS. In 1984 she began a twelve year career at Southern Living magazine in Birmingham, AL, that culminated when the September 1996 issue published the story most beloved to her in all her career: A Year in the Land of Cotton. At the end of 1996 Mrs. Hallam moved her family north as she took on the role of Book Group Senior Editor for the Meredith Corporation. It was there that she wrote and edited twenty-two books under the Better Homes and Gardens and Traditional Home imprints. Before leaving Meredith in 2008, Mrs. Hallam worked for three years as the Senior Design Editor for Traditional Home, and spent five years editing Special Interest Media. It was during her last year in Des Moines that she enrolled at Drake University to finish her master's degree. She graduated in May of 2008 with a Master's of Public Administration degree and a 4.0 GPA. After earning her MPA, Mrs. Hallam was accepted into the doctoral program at the University of Florida, Gainesville, where she taught Introductory Journalism courses and researched her doctoral thesis in media, health information, and public policy. She wrote and taught until the time of her passing. Friends may call from 5:00pm until 10:00pm on Friday and 8:00am until 10:30am on Saturday at Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home of Bunkie. Memorial donations may be made to the Animal Rescue League, the Humane Society, or the LSU Alumni Scholarship fund. Also, Mrs. Hallam would prefer that donations be made in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be sent to: www.hixson-ducote.com.

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Published by New York Times on Apr. 1, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for LINDA HALLAM

7 Entries

Angela Schoenfeld

April 17, 2011

Linda and I met at LSU as roomates and stayed together one and a half years until I moved out of state. Though, at first glance, Linda seemed shy and reserved, she got me involved in activities at LSU that influenced me all my life. We continued to correspond through the years and see each other at Christmas in Morrow. Linda was so very busy with family and career, but she never forgot her friends, their families or their interests. Always a lady and always a friend. I am honored to have known this lovely and courageous person. Sincerely, Angela

Dorothy Sanders Boger

April 7, 2011

Linda was clearly one of the most outstanding people that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Not only was she my eldest sister, but also an exceptional friend and mentor. Several years ago during one of our many fun visits together, I told her that I was certain that even if we were not sisters, and met as co-workers or neighbors we would have quickly become life-long friends.
Linda’s numerous accomplishments and accolades are truly remarkable, but pale in comparison to her love and devotion to her family and friends. As I held her hand during her last day on this earth, I thanked her for giving me such a great example to strive to emulate. We will all miss Linda greatly, but I know that Suzy and I are stronger, more determined and loving women because of the tremendous example that Linda set for us growing up. We could not have had a better big sister. Our Daddy used to describe extraordinary men as, “A Prince of a Man.” Linda was truly a, “Princess of a Woman.” Or, maybe better yet, a “Queen.” I will love and miss her forever.

David B. Hicks, Sr.

April 3, 2011

Linda was always smiling and it lit up the room. I knew her as the older sister of a classmate (her sister, Susan). Linda should be an inpiration to all as to what can be accomplished no matter where you grow up. I feel proud to have known her.

annette clifford

April 1, 2011

For Linda, from Tom and Annette

April 1, 2011

Dear Steve! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! Linda was a great friend to me when we first moved to Birmingham! I will never forget her kind spirit. Thinking of you, and missing Linda! Jean Allsopp

Charley Blaine

April 1, 2011

Linda was a dear friend in Des Moines.

She was one of the guiding lights in the founding of BODS, aka the Benevolent Order of Displaced Southerners, a loose confederation of Southerners and occasional Southerners living in Des Moines.

Our goal was to party as a big group with as many generations as possible. Party we did, with crawfish boils (featuring crawfish flown in from Louisiana), pig roasts and even Mardi Gras parties.

She also loved to hold parties in Steve's and her Beaverdale home.

The Hallams' parties were not to be missed. Not because they were crazy parties but because when you went, she greeted you as a long lost friend. She cared about what you had to say, even if she disagreed with you.

Everything was welcoming in her home, except maybe Foxy the dog, who was protective of her turf.

Linda had exquisite taste in decorating, which one couldn't miss in the books that she produced at Meredith and in her home in Beaverdale.

Chardel and I adored Linda's company and are deeply sorry at her passing.

Charles Blaine

April 1, 2011

Linda was a dear friend in Des Moines. She was one of the reasons we founded BODS, aka the Benevolent Order of Displaced Southerners. Our goal was to party, and party we did, with crawfish boils (with live crawfish flown in from Louisiana), pig roasts and even Mardi Gras parties. Linda had exquisite taste in decorating and loved to hold parties in Steve's and her home in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines. The Hallams' parties were always great fun and not to be missed. Not because they were crazy parties but because when you went, she greeted you as a long lost friend. Everything was welcoming in her home, except maybe the dog, who was protective of her turf. Chardel and I adored Linda's company and are deeply sorry at her passing.

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