Linda Jean Johnson Bland, 87, passed away on November 1, 2026, following a brief illness. A loving mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, Linda devoted her life to her family, friends, and community. Funeral services for Linda will be held at 2 PM on Friday, November 6th, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Rev. Elizabeth Hinton officiating. She will then be laid to rest beside the love of her life in Luverne Emmaus Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday for one hour prior to the service.

Linda was born in Clayton, Alabama, on June 26, 1939, to Imogene Arrington Johnson and Robert Melvin Johnson. She graduated from Clayton High School and the University of Montevallo. She began her career as a home economics teacher at Jemison High School and later taught at Luverne High School.

A longtime member of Luverne First United Methodist Church, Linda was also a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, the Luverne Garden Club, UMW, and the Susanna Wesley Women's Fellowship. She loved Luverne deeply and could often be found volunteering at church and throughout the community. An alumna initiate of Delta Zeta sorority, she also volunteered with the Alpha Gamma Chapter at the University of Alabama.

Known to many as "LinLin," Linda touched countless lives through small acts of kindness and service. Her love for her family and friends was unmatched.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Martha Kay Johnson; and her husband, Alvin Cleveland Bland.

She is survived by her daughters, Jeanelle Bland Day (Stanley) of Birmingham, Alabama, and Leitha Bland Boutwell (Christopher) of Goldendale, Washington; her unofficial son, Vance Duke Edeker of Jacksonville, Florida; her two granddaughters, Catherine Ann Boutwell of Middletown, Connecticut, and Mollie Boutwell Hudson (Taylor) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and her sister, Dianne Johnson Knight (John) of Hayneville, Alabama. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Shannon Knight, Eric Knight (Jonathan), Tim Tucker (Marchetta), and Becky Greene (Stuart).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Luverne Cemetery Fund (Emmaus Cemetery, c/o Jim Williams, PO Box 701, Luverne, AL 36049) or Luverne United Methodist Church (PO Box 716, Luverne, AL 36049).