Julia Linda Chambers Mahan

Julia Linda Chambers Mahan was born a Georgia native on September 10,1939 and spent the majority of her life in Brierfield, Alabama until her death on September 18, 2025. Linda will be buried next to her beloved husband, S.M. (Mike) Mahan, who died July 24, 2018, at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Brierfield, Alabama. Together in life, together in death.

Linda was a 1961, B.M. Ed. graduate of Wesleyan College, Macon Georgia and a 1973, Ph.D graduate of The University of Alabama. She was a pioneering leader in higher education serving first as a professor and later as Vice-President of Student Affairs at the University of Montevallo. Throughout her 31-year career at Montevallo, Linda’s impact was felt most by the students and teammates she inspired, guided, mentored and encouraged.

Linda was a lifelong musician and an accomplished violinist with the Columbus Georgia Symphony, where she met her darling husband Mike, a member of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra in Birmingham.

Linda and Mike shared a love not only of each other but of their historic home, Montebrier, which they lovingly restored and where they lived together for 51 years. During this time, they made memories that will live on through the multitude of family, friends, colleagues and even random strangers who were welcomed into their home and into their lives. Linda is survived by daughters, Miki (Hud) Heaton and Stann (Neal) Maraman; grandsons, Michael (Julie) Schneider, Jacob Garris (Morgan), Jesse Garris, and Ashley Robinson (Bryant); great-grandchildren Caroline Schneider and Bodhi Robinson; brother Larry (Elease) Chambers; and her guardian angel, Cindy Holsombeck.

A private graveside service will be held.

*If you would like to honor Linda’s life, please consider a donation to the Hoyt & Lucile Chambers Scholarship Fund, C/O Piedmont College, Business Office, P.O. Box 10, Demorest, GA 30535 or The Mahan Fund, C/O Alabama Historic Ironworks Foundation, 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla, AL 35111.