Memories of Linda Dawn Joyner, (1954 - 2014)

My best friend

September 11, 2022

Linda and I met in the 7th grade. We became best friends quickly as we both loved the outdoors and horses. She stayed with me a month the summer after she and family moved to VA. I was so sad to see her move. But we wrote letters weekly. Sometimes more. We challenged each other to see who could make the best grades in school. She would send me drawings of horses. I still have some... I will always cherish them. She visited me on duty in the service and we took a vacation round robin thru several states. We had so much fun. Awww. She was one of the best people God ever put on this earth. Thank you, Lord.

November 26, 2014

I met Linda shortly after I arrived in Blacksburg in the summer of 1979 and began to work for the Department of Forestry at VT. She was an avid hiker, camper, forester, photographer and naturalist. We shared many enjoyable conversations and a lot of good laughs, especially over Skipper and that 65 Plymouth she loved so much. She had eyes to see things that many others couldn't. One evening as a church roofing project was nearing completion, she took this photo and on the back wrote a scripture and a poem:

Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love (I Corinthians 16:13-14)

Friends together work side by side,
To finish their task before the light of day.
Sharing quiet moments of companionship,
Building strength for yet another day.

Feathers from Birdles

October 24, 2014

Linda loved her birds. Her last bird was Birdles, a blue fronted amazon. When I was in Paraguay a few weeks ago I brought some of birdles feathers with me to leave there in tribute to her life, and to Linda's. As a blue fronted amazon, she was from that region of South America. After laying the feathers down, I read the poem that Linda wrote to birds that had died that she and I had known (see picture in album)

Here is an excerpt from her poem:

I will listen to your sweet parrot voice as you call to me,
I will admire your valiant spirit and hang onto the perch as you did
I will carry your precious and treasured memores in my heart
And I will wait for the day when our spirits meet once again.

As she said to the birds, I so say to her.

I love you dear sister!

LoraKim

Off to school

September 13, 2014

I was but a young lad and remember the day that the parents took us to VPI to start lindas first year at Virginia Tech. The joy on her face was so amazing and it infected us all. I was so proud to see my big sister going off to school. Knowing this was the last time I would see her for four years was sad but was also the best day of my life to see the pride on her face and in my parents eyes. We have lost a tender heart but heaven has received a loving soul...

Cookies are disabled :(

Share a story