Linda Anne Scott

Linda Anne Scott, 87, of Gulfport, MS, passed away on Sunday, August 31, at Greenbriar Nursing Center. Her oldest friends called her Scotty. She had just turned 87 on August 27th.

Linda was born on August 27, 1938, in Laurel, MS, to Frank A. Scott, Sr. and Mildred Lorene Scott.

She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her brother Frank Scott and his wife Charlotte and their children, Meagan (Travis) Hoffman and Chris (Kat) Toal, and a great nephew she never got to see, Briggs William Hoffman.

Linda earned 5 degrees from Ole Miss. She received a bachelor's, master's and PhD in English. Her dissertation was on William Faulkner. She then earned a law degree and finally a bachelor’s in library science.

Linda worked many jobs throughout her life with most of them teaching English either at the high school or college level. She taught at various high schools on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She taught at Auburn, William Carey, U of L Monroe, Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Keesler AFB. One of her most interesting jobs was as a housekeeper at a hotel in Germany during the summer between her junior and senior years at Ole Miss. Linda worked for a brief time for the Bryant Stennis law firm in Gulfport. After receiving her degree in library science, she worked at the Ole Miss law library until she retired and returned to Gulfport in 2000 to live.

Linda was a special person. She loved to read. It did not matter if it were a novel or non-fiction, she would read it. You could tell by the turned down pages and underlined passages. Linda never stopped learning.

Linda loved movies. She would always watch the Oscars then go see the award winners at Cinemark. She loved Turner Classic Movies, particularly their film noir movies.

Linda had an opinion on any subject. But she loved politics. If you took the other side, you had better know your stuff because she was going to grill you. She was known as the inquisitor. And being an English teacher, you best not use a pronoun without establishing the antecedent. If you did not, she was going to ask, “who is he?” or “who are they?”

Linda cared about her community. She would go to city hall to protest a development she thought was not in the best interest of the citizens.

Being single in later life, Linda knew she had to be frugal. She was always looking for a deal anywhere. She shopped for Christmas gifts after Christmas. She scoured the ads for the best buys. It was because she had to depend on herself, and she remembered that her parents lived through the Great Depression.

Any correspondence from the government was closely examined. Linda would aways ask why. And she did not always do what was asked of her, she was something of a rebel.

Linda had many friends most from her days at Gulfport High. She stayed in touch with them no matter where they moved. She even coordinated the monthly dinner for those friends who lived on or near the Gulf Coast. She was always on the go, whether it was lunch with the guys or a friend. During the week she attended her book club, bible study, as well as working out with Cindy her personal trainer but who was also a dear friend.

Linda loved her church, St. Marks. She volunteered often to be the reader on many Sundays and special occasions. During her recent illness, she received many cards from various members of the parish as well as a visit from Clelie, the associate pastor.

Linda’s funeral will be held Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at noon at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Friends may visit one hour prior to the service at 11 a.m.

Linda will be cremated and her ashes placed in St. Mark’s columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made either to St. Marks or the Humane Society of South Mississippi.

Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, O’Neal Road, Gulfport, is honored to serve the family of Dr. Linda Anne Scott.