Mrs. Linda Towns Lloyd of Athens, Georgia, died Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital in Athens, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the sanctuary of the Turkey Creek Baptist Church in Lilly, Georgia.  The burial will follow at the Forest Chapel Church Cemetery in Pinehurst, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples' Agenda (GCPA) at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/coalition-for-the-peoples-agenda-1. Voter rights and education were a passion of Linda's, and she was deeply invested in GCPA's work.

Linda Towns Lloyd, a beloved wife, mother, mentor, and community champion, was born on October 28, 1954, in Vienna, Georgia. Shaped by her experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South and her family's need for public assistance, she dedicated her life to empowering others and building stronger, more just communities. She combined a sharp professional mind with deep compassion for children, families, and those too often left without a voice. After a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer, Linda transitioned from this life on April 15, 2026, in    Athens, Georgia.

Those who knew Linda remember her as a tireless community organizer and social justice advocate—someone with a rare talent for building  partnerships, inspiring action, and supporting others to reach their dreams. Above all, she was a devoted follower of Christ, in words and deeds,   remaining faithful and optimistic no matter the challenges that came her way. Her loss is felt intensely by all who loved her, who knew her, or who knew her work. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the  communities she helped to uplift.

The first in her family to attend college, Linda earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Georgia Southwestern University and a   Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia. She   carried the values of social work—dignity, service, and justice—into   every role she held.

For many years, Linda served in key leadership roles with the Northeast Georgia Center for Mental Health/Mental Retardation/Alcohol & Drug Services in Athens. As community support services coordinator and later as agency director, she managed multi-million-dollar budgets and large teams serving a ten-county region. She expanded services for people with developmental disabilities, implemented Medicaid waiver programs to strengthen the agency's financial footing, and ensured that individuals and families received compassionate, individualized care.

At GRO Industries in Union Point, she led as center director, serving   clients with vocational preparation, job transition, advocacy, and case management.

Linda was the first black woman to serve as county manager for the Greene County Board of Commissioners in Greensboro. She oversaw county operations and finances, supervised department heads and constitutional officers, and directed major capital improvement projects.

Linda was also an entrepreneur. She founded Positive Outlooks Consulting Firm, providing self-development workshops, employment assistance, and grant proposal writing.

As executive director of the Economic Justice Coalition (EJC) in Athens, she became a powerful advocate for living wages, fair working conditions, and economic opportunity. She organized low‑wage workers and day   laborers through Unity: Cooperative Labor Partners. Linda led EJC to partner with the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples' Agenda to engage deeply in voter registration and education campaigns. She also mentored the next generation of social workers as a field instructor for University of Georgia and Athens Technical College students.

Beyond these roles, Linda's lifelong commitment to children, youth, and community development was evident in everything she did. She helped build the Creative Visions Foundation, Inc., securing federal funding to establish community computer labs; led early intervention and family support services through the Babies Can't Wait program; founded and directed the Families First Empowerment Center, Inc., providing afterschool and GED preparation programs in Vienna and Unadilla; and coordinated summer enrichment programs through the Turkey Creek Baptist Church's Families First initiative. As an adjunct instructor at Athens Technical College, she taught job readiness, financial            management, and social work courses.

Her leadership was recognized through numerous speaker invitations and community awards, such as the Athens Area Human Relations Council Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, the Zeta Beta Beta Chapter Omega Athens Citizen of the Year, and The Dr. Ray MacNair Lifetime     Achievement Award. She remained deeply involved in civic and service organizations, most notably including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Athens Alumnae Chapter, where she was a longtime chair of the Social Action Committee.

Linda was the daughter of the late Willie James Young, Sr. and Dorothy Jean Towns of Lilly, Georgia, who preceded her in death and instilled in her the values of faith, hard work, and service. She was united in marriage to James Otis Lloyd of Athens, Georgia, her loving husband, partner, and steadfast supporter of over 50 years, who survives her.

She is also survived by her only child, her daughter, Tiffanie Nakia Towns of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, her stepdaughter, Shaundrea Genee' Lloyd of Kathleen, Georgia, and her stepson, Stanley Chives of Dunnellon, Florida. Her surviving sisters are Felicia Young of Vienna, Georgia; Serena Melton (Lee) of Morven, North Carolina; and Verneda Young of Vienna, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her sister, Stephanie Young. Her surviving brothers are Garrett Young of Villa Rica, Georgia; Dairy "Darren" Young (Debbie) of Vienna, Georgia; Rodney Young (Neketia) of Albany, Georgia; Willie Joe Young (Michelle) of San Antonio, Texas; Sammy Young (Jennifer) of Killeen, Texas; and Willie James Young, Jr. of Unadilla, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her brothers Cedric Young and Gregory Young. A host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends also mourn her passing, while   celebrating the blessing of her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples' Agenda (GCPA) at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/coalition-for-the-peoplesagenda-1.Voter rights and education was a passion of Linda's, and she was deeply invested in GCPA's work.