Linda Waller DeFord Perry

Linda Waller DeFord Perry – age 81, left the earth to walk with her Lord and Savior on May 19, 2025.
Linda was born on April 30, 1944 in Knoxville, TN and graduated from East High School in 1962. Her graduating class is a unique group of close friends who continue to stay in touch and get together whenever possible. She loved helping with their annual reunions. She spent several years working in the corporate world as a secretary, Industrial Engineering Technician, Facilities Manager, and a Corporate Facilities Engineer.
Linda truly has led a very interesting life filled with world travel as a dance choreographer. She spent 35 years devoted to dance, was a founding member of the United Country Western Dance Council formed in 1989 and served as the Secretary and Judge Certification Instructor. In 2000 she was the first woman to be inducted into the UCWDC Hall of Fame. Linda's greatest joy was dancing and doing things for others. After retiring from dance, she developed a talent for lyric writing and spent 10 years writing beautiful words to put to music. At 77 she wrote her first novel, which was followed by a children's book. Once again, she found a talent within herself that she never knew she had.
If you knew Linda, she was your friend. She was generous with her time, her knowledge, and she loved to create gifts for her friends and family. Every gift she gave was carefully created specifically for that person and wrapped so beautifully that the receivers didn't want to open them. Her life was filled with precious friendships that meant the world to her. She was instrumental in reaching out to young dancers, giving lessons, and offering advice from her years of knowledge.
Linda was preceded in death by her father, Bernard Waller; mother, Thelma Brewer Ward; step-father, Fred T. Ward; brother, David Richard Waller; and niece, Rhonda Waller Ebrel.
She is survived by her son, Robert David Petty (Christy); daughter, Lisa Petty Frazier (Chuck); three grandchildren, Robert Dillan Petty (Hannah), Watertown; Deonna Frazier; Savanah Frazier Sommerfeld (Jonathan); great-grandchildren, Kali Hardwick, Axle Sommerfeld; several nieces; stepson, Johnny Perry; and other step-children and step-grandchildren.
Linda felt blessed to have had several best friends whom she loved dearly and shared many amazing adventures. She was so proud to have in her life, Cheryl Doyal Berry, Susan Boyd (FL), and other special friends; Eddie Harper (FL), Lanita McNeil, Mickey Shelton, Bill Black, Donna Burkett (FL), Sara Stallsworth Bakin, Becky Crisp & Leanne, Mary Etta O'Day, Mary Bowling, Steve Zener (CA), Grant Austin (GA), Carmen Scarbrough Goodman (TX), Tommy Swabe, Kellese Keyu (TX), Gloria Casey (CA), Ed & Genoa Atwood (SC); all of the former TN Country Dancers and their teams; and UCWDC and it's members.
The family will receive friends at Bridges Funeral Home on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. A memorial service will follow at 4:00 PM, with Rev. Denny Ford officiating.
Arrangements by Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, 865-523-4999. www.bridgesfuneralhome.com