Linda Whitlow

Linda Jolly Whitlow, 78, passed away unexpectantly on Monday, May 26, 2025. She was born on December 13, 1946 to the late Rev. James Howard Jolly and Edith Dimple Gray in Edmonton, KY.

Linda grew up on a farm and was always proud to call herself a country girl. She attended Western Kentucky University then moved to Louisville and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from the University of Louisville. She began her career in education with the Jefferson County Public Schools that would span 27 years. She taught at Parkland Elementary, Paxton Wilt Elementary, and spent the majority of her career with great friends at Hartstern Elementary. It was at Hartstern that Linda lovingly inspired and encouraged students to be their best, and she was very competitive and loved to race the fastest 5th grade boys and girls in a sprint on field day, where she usually would win.

Linda was a member of Parkland Baptist Church, where she grew her Christian faith and led a Sunday School group of teenagers for years. She was active in missions upon retirement and loved serving with the group from Parkland Baptist. Linda was also a breast cancer survivor.

Linda loved being outside, where she was proud that she still mowed her own lawn and planted and tended to her many flowers. She never met a baby or a child that she would not make eyes at and show them attention, the same with her neighbors’ dogs and cats. She loved and lived to help others where after her teaching career ended she became a constant companion to friends or family who were in the hospital.

Linda was funny and loved to act silly, she could be counted on as her years advanced to show off her flexibility by touching her palms to the ground and kicking a leg out in front of her and touching her hand to her foot.

In addition to her parents, Linda is preceded in death by her brother, Larry Jolly.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Kevin Whitlow (Abigail Maines) and Tony Whitlow (Ami); along with her grandchildren, Austin and Arden Whitlow, and Lilli, Luci, and Luke Whitlow; her brother, Gary (Judy) Jolly; a sister-in-law, Martha Ann Jolly; nephews, Jason Jolly and Benton Jolly; and a great number of cousins and friends who loved her dearly.

Visitation will be on 5pm to 8pm on Friday, June 6, 2025 and also from 10:30am to 12pm on Saturday, June 7th at Parkland Baptist Church, 7206 Shepherdsville Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40219, with a celebration of Linda's life there at 12pm. Burial will follow at 4pm Eastern TIme / 3pm Central time in Neals Chapel Church Cemetery, 165 Jc Williams Rd, Glasgow, KY 42141, where Linda will be laid to rest beside her mother and father.

Memorials may be made to https://parkland.churchcenter.com/giving, using the drop down box for "In Memory of Linda Whitlow".

To view the service live, please use the following link to copy and paste in your browser:

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