Linda Fontaine Crank Moseley

Linda was born September 3, 1927, in Louisa, Virginia to William Earle Crank and Phyllis Fry Collins. She graduated from the public schools of Louisa County and from Vanderbilt University in 1948 with a BA in history, membership in Kappa Alpha Theta women’s fraternity and a Phi Beta Kappa key. In Nashville she met Dr. Thaddeus Mortimer Moseley, from West Point, Mississippi. They married in Virginia, September 1948.

After completion of Dr. Moseley’s surgical residency, Linda and Thad moved to Jacksonville in 1950. With a toddler and then a second baby boy, Linda began her dual career as a doctor’s wife and community volunteer—going door to door in Avondale pushing a stroller, meeting her neighbors and raising funds for United Way and March of Dimes.

Thad’s volunteer work at Duval County Hospital led Linda to choose the new Women’s Auxiliary there for her first community commitment. She pushed a cart, served as Shop Chairman, Secretary and President, and led a county-wide fund raising to build a wing on Memorial Unit, which was Duval’s only mental health facility at that time.

Training in the Junior League brought many opportunities and opened many doors for community service and deeper involvement. Representing the League, Linda served on the Speech and Hearing Clinic and Child Guidance Board. After serving as President of the Jacksonville League she was elected to the International Board and later chaired the Regional Nominating Committee. As her knowledge of Jacksonville grew in depth and breadth, Linda became the first woman Vice President of the United Way as Chair of their Budget and Allocations Committee. Presidency of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Jacksonville Symphony made her a Vice President of the Symphony Board, where she pioneered in bringing school children to the Youth Concerts. She was a long-time member of the Salvation Army Board and helped in founding that Auxiliary. Her love of flowers and deep interest in environmental issues kept her involved in her Watsonia Garden Circle from its beginning in 1952 until her death.

In 1968, during a Duval County teachers’ strike, Linda was a substitute teacher at Kirby Smith Junior High school. This experience raised her keen awareness of a need for wider literacy for adults and young people and led to her becoming involved with Learn to Read in 1969. As a founding member of Learn to Read in Jacksonville, she worked as a tutor, as Chairman of Tutor Recruitment, as office volunteer and as a workshop planner training tutors in the Laubach method. As President, she continued to take the cause of literacy throughout the community and beyond.

With a passion for history, Linda’s work with the Colonial Dames was a fulfilling part of her adult life. Through the Dames, she was able to manifest her knowledge of Florida history and love of historic preservation. She served as Registrar from 1981 and became President of the Florida Society in 1988.

She and her Presbyterian husband Thad joined Riverside Presbyterian Church in 1953 and raised their three children there. Serving as the Girls’ Choir Mother, an Adult Classes Leader, a member of the Chancel Committee, the Adult Education Committee, a Trustee and a member of the Celebration Choir, Linda kept her constant commitment to Riverside Presbyterian. The Church became, and remained, her spiritual home for the rest of her life.

Linda was predeceased by her husband in 2002. She is survived by their children; Thaddeus Maury Moseley (Fiona Strathern), William Armistead Moseley (Margaret Cravey), Stacy Fontaine Moseley Scherer (Joseph Scherer), by five grandchildren; Virginia Fontaine Moseley, William Walker Moseley, Robert Armistead Moseley, Thaddeus Nicholas Scherer and Fontaine Lillian-Laura Scherer; and four great grandchildren; James Armistead Moseley, Frances Claire Moseley, Thomas Walker Moseley and Natalie Rae Moseley. She claimed her family as her most cherished and lasting legacy.

Balancing community service, motherhood and marriage, Linda always kept an elegant home, entertained endless guests with a gracious touch and arranged flowers with an effortless eye. She was a brilliant beauty, leaving a lasting imprint on our City and in our hearts. She will be missed.

Funeral arrangements by Corey-Kerlin. A private family celebration of Linda’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the Family asks that memoriams be made to The Ximenez-Fatio House, St. Augustine, Florida.