Linda Nell McBrayer Majors

Linda Majors, of Orrville, was called to eternal rest on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, in Selma, Alabama, following a long illness.

Born Linda Nell McBrayer to Arthur Buren and Nell Phillips McBrayer on October 10, 1942, at Drake Student Infirmary on the campus of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Linda was a proud Auburn legacy who bled orange and blue.

She took delight in her Scottish heritage as a member of the pioneering Clan McBrayer that emigrated to St. Clair County in 1834. She was the granddaughter of Arthur Lafayette McBrayer and Elfrey Ovada Black McBrayer of Ashville, St. Clair County, and of Lewis Henry Phillips and Ida Cobb Sheffield Phillips, of Whatley, Clarke County.

She spent the first years of her life in the care of her grandparents while her father was serving in the U.S. Army and her mother was working in a munitions factory in Seattle, Washington during World War II.

Absolutely beautiful inside and out, Linda was graduated from Ashville High School and entered Auburn University as a 17-year-old Freshman majoring first in pharmacy, then education. There she met and married the love of her life, Herman Edward Majors of Safford, on July 12, 1964, at Ashville Baptist Church.

They were blessed with two daughters, Melynda Elizabeth Majors (Jeffrey Lloyd) of Milpitas, California, and Shannon Majors Anderson (Eric Jewell) of Gulf Shores. Her greatest joy was her three grandchildren, John Dickson, Daulton Anderson and Amanda Anderson, all of Gulf Shores.

Linda handled much of the business side of Majors Farms/Ruby Lake Farms and she also held several administrative positions in Selma over the years, including at George C. Wallace State Community College, the New Vaughan Memorial Hospital, Selma Baptist Hospital, Vaughan Regional Medical Center, ALFA Insurance and as medical secretary to Dr. Josiah H. Smith in private practice, but the roles she enjoyed most were wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker.

Linda was a very talented pianist and organist, serving faithfully as church musician at Orrville United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where she was also a member. She played for many weddings and funerals, gave piano lessons and raised her lovely contralto voice in song at many Christmas and Easter cantatas in years past.

Linda and Herman loved to travel and were avid readers. Linda was a talented seamstress, making many formal dresses over the years. She enjoyed embroidery, cross-stitch and needlepoint. She was an extremely gifted cook and specialized in desserts.

She had a special bond with cats and loved to spoil them rotten. Over the years she had several cats she bonded with in particular, including Midnight, T.J., Oscar, Cliffie, Grummie, Duchess (Pootie-Cat) and Asplundh BOB. Herman used to joke that, if reincarnation existed, he wanted to come back as a cat and belong to Linda.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband Herman, parents Buren and Nell McBrayer, sister Barbara McBrayer Stewart, and brothers-in-law Paul Majors, Leon Majors and Charles Stewart. She is held in blessed memory by her children and grandchildren, sister Ruth McBrayer (Barry) Roberts of Meridianville, nieces Candy Stewart Cato, Aimee Roberts, Liz Majors (Sean) Bertrand, Melissa Roberts (Chase) Carden, Wendy Roberts (Chris) Mayo and Alexis Smith (Blas) Elias, nephews Chris (Jennifer) Majors and Matt (Josie) Roberts, many cousins, and very special family friend Ella Mae Pullom Rogers of Montgomery.

Visitation will be held at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home in Selma on Thursday, June 26th from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Graveside service will be held at Orrville Cemetery on Friday, June 27th at 10 a.m., Rev. Travis Barnes officiating. Pallbearers will be Robert Dickson, David Anderson, Eric Jewell, John Dickson, Daulton Anderson and Allan Kish. Honorary pallbearers are Jeffrey Lloyd, Ed Hooker, Rod Barnes, Mickey Nail, Benjamin Murray and Kevin Pruitt.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Park Place and Southern Care Hospice for the wonderful care and compassion shown to Linda.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Linda’s memory to Orrville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 291, Orrville, AL 36767 are appreciated.