Inez L. Linton

In the late afternoon of April 19, 2019, Good Friday, God sent his angels to reclaim to himself, His sweet loving child, Inez Lee Linton. Our beloved mother was born in Sumter, South Carolina, on November 18, 1922. Inez was the fifth child of nine children born to James Lee and Hattie Gregg Lee. Inez was raised in a Christian home and for her entire life attended churches in South Carolina, and Baltimore, Maryland. She was faithful to her Christian teachings and beliefs that “God is merciful and kind and the blessings that He showers on each of us are gifts.” She often stated “I will forever claim Jesus as my personal Savior who is the maker of all things good. In terms of her education, Inez attended public school in Sumter, South Carolina, completing the eighth grade. However, her intellectual ability far exceeded her academic schooling. While in school, she loved sports and had a particular interest in basketball; she was a star player on her school basketball team. Also, she was the lead singer of her own group who performed throughout the area. While in South Carolina, Inez worked on her family’s farm and would tell many stories about farm life, especially picking cotton. At the tender age of sixteen, Inez met and married the love of her life, James Linton, Sr. After the birth of three sons, Nathaniel, Sr., Pinkney, and James, Jr., they moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where an additional ten children were born. She always instilled in her children that education is the key to success and encouraged them to pursue their education to the full extent of their potential. Inez was a loving and devoted wife to her husband of 50 years until his passing in 1988. She was also preceded in death by three of her sons, Nathaniel, Pinkney, and Leroy. There are no words to describe her role as mother. She loved her children so deeply that each one expressed that they felt as though they were the only child. She was a sweet, but firm disciplinarian giving words of correction with love. These words of correction were not just for her children, but to all of their close friends who lovingly accepted her as the “village” mother. She enjoyed cooking and was known throughout the neighborhood for her delicious cornbread. She was affectionately called “Miss Nell” and the “cornbread lady.” Shortly after moving to Baltimore, Inez and her family settled in the Remington Community and joined Oak Street AME Church. Upon moving to Edmondson Village, she and her family began attending Cockley Community Baptist Church and later settled at Payne Memorial AME Church where she attended regularly until failing health prevented her from doing so. After the older offspring moved away from home, Inez worked in several eating establishments, including Bickford’s Restaurant, as a short order cook. However, her God-given passion was taking care of people which she was able to fulfill working at The Family and Children Society. She was such an outstanding employee that she was recommended for and received the WJZ TV Channel 13 Gold Award. Inez leaves to cherish her beautiful memories: seven sons, James Jr., Dwight, Julius Roosevelt (Charlene), Ira Sr., Otis, Jackie “Frankie” (LeEtta), and Alfonso Sr.; three daughters: Vernetta Linton, Mary Alice Howard (Richard), and Odessa Evelyn Williams (Howard); sister: Hedy Whitaker; 23 grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren; 19 great, great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Inez L. Linton

November 18, 1922 - April 19, 2019