Linda Louise Newsome Ehlert, age 81, of Jasper, Florida, peacefully entered her heavenly home after a brief illness. Surrounded by her children, she passed away at Haven Hospice in Lake City, Florida.

Linda was born in Jennings, Florida on May 6, 1942, to the late Joda and Lucile Newsome. She was the third of 11 children that grew up on the family farm, which was nestled closely to the Alapaha River at Jennings Bluff. Times were hard for most in those days, and Mr. and Mrs. Newsome raised strong and hard-working children. With a deep education in the tobacco fields, the Newsome clan formed an unbreakable bond with each other and their cousins.

After graduating high school in 1960, Linda moved to California briefly to attend modeling school. Upon her return home to Hamilton County she began working at Johnson's grocery store. She married in 1968 and started her family with the birth of her daughter, Karen in 1970, followed by the birth of her twins, David and Diane in 1973. After many years of being a stay-at-home mom, Linda found happiness working for Evan Picone clothing store in Lake Park, Georgia. While there, she developed an amazing sense of style. Later, she returned to Johnson's grocery store, now Hitchcock's Foodway, where she worked until her retirement in 2012. Linda enjoyed baking and decorating cakes of all kinds. Making birthday cakes for her family was a true delight. She was so gifted with a green thumb and enjoyed gardening and caring for her plants. Most days you could find her sitting on her front porch enjoying a cup of coffee with her beloved dog, Bella. Her greatest joy in life however, was her family and friends. After the passing of her mother, Linda assumed the role of "mother hen" and continued the tradition of hosting family gatherings. She truly held her family together and she loved and cherished them so deeply.

Linda was a member of the first Baptist Church of Jasper. She was preceded in death by both her parents, her brothers, Joda, Tommy, and Barney Newsome, and most recently her beloved sister, Joanne Knight.

Linda leaves to cherish her memory her Daughter, Karen Ehlert Hill (Robert Streetman), her twins, son David Ehlert (Andrea) and daughter Diane Ehlert Smith (Scott); her siblings Mary (John) Blaylock, Nell (Robert) Lynn, Danny Newsome, Jamie Newsome, Diana (Scott) Woodard, LaDonna (Scott) Wagers; her grandchildren Lindsey Hill (Witt Register), Ashleigh Bissanti (John); her step-grandchildren Hailey Weeks, Megan Streetman, Peyton and Andy Smith; brother-in-law Paul Knight and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at the First Baptist Church in Jasper, Florida with visitation beginning at 11:00am and continuing until the service, which begins at 12:00pm.