Linda Rhodes Davis Wilkerson

A memorial service will be held Monday, January 20, 2025 in the chapel of McLaurin Funeral Home with Pastor Brian Davis officiating. Inurnment will be at Sunset Memorial Park in Smithfield, North Carolina.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 pm until 1:30 pm on Monday, January 20, 2025 at the funeral home, prior to the service.

She was born in Randolph County on February 8, 1945 to the late Lawrence Ray Davis and the late Mary Geneva Campbell Davis. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her lifelong love and husband, James Wyatt Wilkerson.

Linda and Jimmy were high school sweethearts who meet in the 4th grade at Longview Elementary, then attended Hugh Morson and Broughton High together. Their families all attended Longview Baptist and lived in the Longview Gardens community. Linda enjoyed watching Jimmy play baseball and basketball for local teams, American Legion and for the schools he attended.

After graduation Linda went to Wilson School of nursing while Jimmy was at NC State. After Jimmy joined the US Air Force they were married April 2, 1966. After a two week honeymoon Jimmy went to basic training while Linda stayed home to attend nursing school. After Linda’s graduation and Jimmy’s year in Vietnam they lived in in Charleston, SC while Jimmy finished his active duty, returning to Raleigh in early April 1970. Kim was born soon after. Linda had various positions as a nurse including working for optometrist Dr Frank Day, Wake Medical Center operating room, critical care at Dorthea Dix, Holly Hill, Division of Facility Services/DHHS where she inspected nursing homes for the state and lastly at North Carolina Special Care center as director of standards management. Her nursing career spanned over 40 years.

While at Holly Hill, Linda started to work on getting her BS degree. During this time, in 1986, her husband passed suddenly. She stopped work to care for Kim and finish her BS degree. She graduated from Barton College then began her job inspecting nursing homes.

Linda was an avid reader. She also enjoyed yearly spring, summer and fall camping trips to Salter Path Family Campground from 1971 to 2000. She spent her retirement years visiting her grandchildren and friends. She was a member of the 1963 Broughton Divas group that met yearly. She enjoyed getting together with high school friends and her Wilson School of Nursing class of 1967 friends that met yearly in Wilson.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kim & Tracy Smith; grandchildren, Jessica and William Smith; brothers and sisters, Edward Lawrence Davis and wife Delores of Fuquay Varina, NC, Penny Davis Bullock of Morehead City, NC and Thomas Richard Davis and wife Kim of Corpus Christi, TX.; nieces and nephews, Lisa Davis Schulstad and husband Bayne, Jennifer Davis Hinton and husband Kevin, Nathan Bullock, Nelson Bullock and wife Chelsea, James Davis and Olivia Davis; and many great nieces and nephews and their families.

Online condolences may be made to the family at: www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com.

McLaurin Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.