Mary Linda Anderson Maggard

Mary Linda Anderson Maggard, age 84, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday, June 1, 2026, in Gulfport, MS. 

Born and raised in Long Beach, Mississippi, Linda spent many of her childhood days with sand between her toes and the sound of laughter in the air. A creative spirit, she enjoyed painting, crocheting, and pottery, but her greatest passion was clothing design and sewing. She pursued that passion by earning an Associate of Arts degree in Design from Gulf Park College for Women, later earning her certification as a social worker and family therapist.

In the summer of 1961, Linda married Phil Crawford, and together they began building a family. She was a devoted mother to her three children, Philip, David, and Cammy. Over the years, Linda's life took her to many places, including North Carolina and Alaska, creating cherished memories and experiences along the way. In 1999, she returned to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the place she had always considered home.

Building on her creativity and love of people, Linda found her calling working with older adults and eventually became Director of the Lyman Senior Citizen Center. She brought energy, compassion, and imagination to the role, creating enjoyable activities and meaningful projects that enriched the lives of those who attended the center. Her creative talents and warm spirit helped make the center a welcoming place where friendships flourished and memories were made.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, E.S. "Andy" Anderson and Velma Anderson; her brothers, J.A. "Jim" Anderson and Timothy S. Anderson; and her beloved sons, Philip H. Crawford IV and David S. Crawford.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Cameron Sargeant and husband James; her longtime companion, John Koonse; her sister, Margaret E. "Margie" Robinson; daughter-in-law, Audrey Crawford; grandchildren Cody Courtright, Dustin Courtright Sr., Joseph Crawford, Andrew Crawford, and Autumn Crawford; and great-grandchildren Rosemarie, Dustin Jr., Phoenix, Dylan, and Adiline Courtright.

Linda will be remembered for her kind and generous spirit, her open heart, and her gift for making others feel welcome. She loved music, laughter, and spending time with family and friends. Outgoing and full of life, she rarely met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anyone. She was also a wicked card player whose competitive streak kept family and friends on their toes and made every game memorable.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.

Please check back for service date and time.

Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, O’Neal Road, Gulfport, is honored to serve the family of Mary Linda Anderson Maggard.