Linda Syphrett Wood of Beaumont died after a brief illness on March 1, 2008. She was preceded in death by parents Pauline and Donley Syphrett of Liberty, Texas and husband Henry Wood of Nashville, Tennessee. She is survived by sister Donna Prince and husband Paul of Beaumont; and nephew Paul Prince III of Houston. She attended Liberty Public Schools and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas.
Linda had recently moved to Beaumont from Nashville where she was involved in various community activities. She served as a docent at the Cheekwood Museum of Art and at Belle Meade Plantation, worked with the Pottery Guild of Nashville, volunteered at Vanderbilt University Hospital and fostered rescue animals for the Nashville Humane Society.
She was an accomplished potter and painter, loved bowling and golf and was a fierce competitor in all board and card games. After deciding to move to Beaumont she immediately bought a home, acquired a library card, investigated several volunteer opportunities, joined the Art Studio, made arrangements to enroll at Lamar University and became a member of the Ladies Poker Parlor and Social Club. Illness might have interfered with her plans, but Linda was never one to allow grass underfoot.
Appreciation and gratitude must be expressed to Linda’s doctors and their staffs. Doctors Robert Birdwell, Girish Kansara and Reji John accompanied her along her jouney with exemplary skill and dedication. The Oncology nurses and aides at Memorial Hermann Baptist and Christus Saint Elizabeth Hospitals also cared for Linda and her family with great gentleness and compassion.
Although Linda did not wish a formal burial service, The Reverend Byron Crocker gave comfort to family and friends by leading prayers at her bedside. She requested that her ashes be mingled with those of her husband and spread over the Texas Hill Country at bluebonnet time.
She came into this world as my sister. She departed as my friend.
Cremation arrangements under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont.