Linda Kay Holiday

Linda was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and cherished family member who leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and treasured memories. She is survived by her children: Janie, Pam, Paula, Tommy, and Tara; her 13 grandchildren: Heather, Amanda, Rachael, David, Terence, Ashley, Deshaun, Anthony, Brittany, Vanessa, Trevor, and Jasmine.

She is also survived by her 17 great-grandchildren: Mikayla, Marissa, Aubrey, James, Sierra, Ava, Iris, Phoenix, Nova, Bellamy, Casso, Yara, Zyaire, Nekyh, Aria, Rhys, and Emory, as well as her beloved cousins Sara and Kevin.

Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Linda moved to Florida at the age of 12. She lived in College Park until 2009, when she moved to Richmond Hill, Georgia, to live with her son Tommy. A proud graduate of Edgewater High School, Class of 1961, Linda was active in the school choir. She was also a member of the Rainbows, a youth organization affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star for women and Masons for men.

After high school, she went to work for Coca-Cola, where she was affectionately known as “Mama Coke.” She retired in 2002 after a long and fulfilling career.

Linda was an avid collector of Coca-Cola memorabilia—a passion she maintained since high school. She was the heart of her family, always bringing everyone together during her favorite holidays: Christmas, Halloween, and especially Easter. Her Easter egg hunts were legendary, filled with money, prize tickets, and love. She continued this tradition with her grandchildren, and now her daughter Pam carries on the tradition, hoping to do it justice.

During her battle with Alzheimer’s disease, Linda’s wish was to never be placed in a nursing home. Her son Tommy and his fiancée Yenny lovingly honored that wish, taking exceptional care of her throughout her journey with the illness.

Linda’s spirit lives on through the traditions she created, the family she nurtured, and the love she gave so freely.

A visitation for Linda will be held Friday, May 16, 2025 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734. A funeral service will occur Friday, May 16, 2025 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734. A committal service will occur Friday, May 16, 2025 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Rd, Gotha, FL 34734.

How are you doing? Are you ok? How are you holding up? She’s resting now. She’s in a better place. She’s not hurting anymore. I’m fine. I’m alright. I’m ok. Til I get in my car and I’m alone with my thoughts and I see your bright red hair and your beautiful freckled face. I see your smile and I can hear your voice. I can smell the hint of Jovan as you’re putting on your lip stick. Hands full of rings and the gold chain I wear today. Fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror. Chewing on your Extra gum asking if I want a piece. Like the piece of a Hershey bar or a scoop of Edys ice cream. A can of original “prinkles” or a really burnt fried balogne sandwich. Holding on for dear life yelling TOMMY as he gets on that gas only to have me doing the same as you haul ass out of a parking lot in your Monte Carlo just to get in front of the car that’s like a football field behind us. You laugh. Knowing damn well you just gave me a minor heart attack. There would be days when you lived in College Park that I wished I could sleep upstairs with everyone else as I slept with you and Curly. Now I’m wishing you were still waking me up in the middle of the night because I keep kicking you. I honestly want to know, what did you think that pillow between us was really going to do? Grinding my teeth waking you up yet again, but there I was asleep next to you each night. General Hospital and dominos, bingo and Dean Koontz, words searches and The Young and the Restless. My love for words and my love for reading most definitely came from you. That and these damn pinky toe nails. If you know you know. And if not, I’m sure your toenail clippers thank you. I think I might have to paint them red just for you. I have your voicemails saved in my phone. As I play them back I feel my chest tighten as the rest of my body goes limp, my eyes swell with tears not knowing if they’re happy or sad, then I smile. Your voice saying “love ya” and that I’ve never doubted, no matter how much Trevor and I bugged you. “You’re just like your father!” Trying to be stern but I can hear your laugh coming through every word you speak. Those memories we’ve created are like a movie in my head. I can play back full conversations with you and I hope my memory doesn’t fail me so I can hold on to them forever. The love you have given and instilled in all of us is going to be passed on for generations to come. Because there is no other you. You told me so many times that if there ever came a time where you could no longer take care of yourself that “you better not put me in a home I rather die” I am so eternally grateful for my father, Yenny, and all of her care takers that have done just that, taken such amazing care of her and for being able to fulfill her wishes and keep her out of a facility. It is THE hardest job. But you guys did that. Alzheimer’s, dementia, whatever you want to call it tried to steal her from us bit by bit but everytime I looked in those eyes there you were….humming. You were there. And I miss you so damn much. Everyone knows I’m not a faith based person. And I loved that you were ok with it. Didn’t care that I didn’t pray or bow my head and just let me be me. Accepting and loving ALL of ME. I believe in the universe. And I’ve seen you so much lately. I see you dancing through the leaves of the trees. I hear you whistling through the wind. I saw you in those fuzzy dice parked next to me. I heard you as Arias game gave her a trial song and it was Yeah by Usher. I can still remember the first time I ever played it for you and you turned it up saying you loved the beat! Tapping away on your steering wheel! To be honest I thought it would be a song I’d just be bugging you with and then it became YOUR song. I could take up this entire service talking about you and I still wouldn’t be done. So instead I’ll just raise my can to the strongest woman I’ve ever known. You took a piece of me when you left and that’s okay because atleast I’ll be with you forever as you are with me. To Grandma, Mom, Mama Coke, Linda K Holiday. And the K is just K. I will “love ya” forever and continue to when we are both dancing in the wind passing through the leaves of the trees…together.

-Vanessa Holiday