Linda Sexton Messick Downs, 81, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly at Baptist Medical Center South on Saturday, October 17th, 2026. Funeral services for Linda will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, October 22nd, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Brother Danny Dean officiating. Interment will follow in Cool Spring Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday for one hour prior to the service.

Linda spent over twenty years working in the banking business in Montgomery before she retired. She was always such a proper Southern lady throughout her life. Everyone who met her talked about how precious and sweet she was, and everyone who knew her well also knew she could be as feisty as they come. She was too much of a lady to argue with you though. Oh no, she would simply smile and nod as if she agreed...and then did whatever she wanted to do anyway! Linda never left her house without looking fabulous, and she thoroughly enjoyed every opportunity she received to get all dressed up and go out, from formal events to finding the best costumes for Halloween. Saturdays in the Fall found her cheering on the Crimson Tide, and the rest of the time she enjoyed watching her favorite Lifetime movies. Her favorite activity though was watching the jewelry channel, and she might have bought a "few" things here and there!

At home, Linda grew the most beautiful flowers over the years and she was a wiz in the kitchen. Of course, she made all the best Southern dishes but she also had a gift for cooking the most mouth-watering spaghetti sauce from scratch and, back in the day, Sundays always called for her famous pot roast with all the traditional fixings. Her family cherishes all their favorite memories of her strong-willed, feisty personality. There was no one she loved to good-naturedly pick at more than her son-in-law, Levin, who enjoyed giving it right back to him though, of course, it was always done with a smile. Her cats were also her cherished company at home. Above all, Linda was a devoted wife, mother, and "MeMaw" to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were her whole heart since birth, and she will be missed more than words could ever properly express.

Linda was preceded in death by her husbands, Bobby Messick and Allen Downs; parents, John & Melvina Nichols Sexton; and siblings, Martha Sexton, Wayne Sexton, and Charles Sexton. She is survived by her very special friend, Silvestre Hernandez; beloved daughter and son-in-law, Kathy & Levin Parmer; grandchildren, Journey (Sonnie) O'Donnell, Ashley (Edwin) Cowles, Haleigh (Ryan) Russo, Hollie Idec, and Brayden Parmer; great-grandchildren, Austin O'Donnell, Jake Cowles, Katheryn O'Donnell, Lillian Phelps, Christyn Phelps, Pressley Idec, Jacob Idec, Ridge Russo, and Rawlins Russo; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Stan Petty, Travis Frost, Journey O'Donnell, Ryan Russo, Timmy Sexton, Austin O'Donnell, and Tommy Atkinson.