Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameLinda Carol SHOFFNER 
241,3, Moody Isley,3, Linda Isley Obituary
241,3, Moody Isley,3, Linda Isley ObituaryBirthNov 5, 1943, Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland3, Linda Shoffner Isley Obituary
DeathNov 18, 2024, Liberty, Randolph County, North Carolina3, Linda Shoffner Isley Obituary
Obituary Online notes for Linda Carol SHOFFNER
11/26/2024
Linda Isley Obituary
November 5, 1943 - November 18, 2024
Liberty, North Carolina - Linda Shoffner Isley, Ed.D., 81, of Liberty, North Carolina, wife of Charles Howard Isley and a former Assistant Superintendent in the Wake County Public School System, died at home on Monday, November 18, 2024, surrounded by her family.
Linda, the only daughter of Bennett Clifton Shoffner and Delta Pearl Shoffner, was born on November 5, 1943, in Baltimore, Maryland where her parents worked in a munitions factory for the war effort. Linda began her education at Nathaniel Greene School in Liberty, NC, which she attended for 12 years and was a member of the last graduating class in 1962. She caught Howard's eye playing "King of the Pier" at Staley Lake when she was 15, and somehow convinced her parents to let her date "Roughhouse", commencing a love affair that lasted 60+ years. The two were married on December 20, 1964, during her junior year at UNC Greensboro where she earned a BA in Physics with a minor in Mathematics. Always a scheduler, their first daughter, Jacinda Doreen, arrived twelve months later during Christmas break.
After graduation, the family moved to Raleigh in 1966 where Linda began her career as an educator in the Raleigh City Schools (Enloe, Broughton and Sanderson) while Howard finished his degree and where their second daughter, Melissa Carol, was born. In 1970, Linda moved to Ravenscroft School, where she taught science and math for the next 15 years, chaired the Science Department, coordinated Curriculum Development K-12, coordinated graduation (where she helped secure Vice President Gerald Ford, Elizabeth Dole and others as speakers) and sponsored student government among her many jobs. She was loved by students, earning the Favorite Teacher Award, and honored by administration with the Outstanding Educator Award. A lifelong learner, Linda also continued her own education at night, during the summer and on weekends, earning her Master of Education in Science Education from North Carolina State University in 1984.
In 1985, Linda rejoined the Wake County Public School System where she would spend the next 21 years as an administrator, first as an Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at Apex High School before she was recruited to the Central Office where she served in multiple leadership roles related to Curriculum and Instruction. In 1996, she was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society, Omicrom Rho Chapter for her contributions in education. At the same time, she earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from North Carolina State University in 1998, the culmination of 13 years of additional study while working fulltime for Wake County. Ultimately, she was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of the Wake County Public Schools in 2000, where she managed Special Educational Services, Counseling and Student Services, Prevention Services among others for approximately 15% of the students in the school system until her retirement in 2006. She continued her impact as an educator even in retirement serving on the Board of Trustees of New Garden Friends School in Greensboro until 2023. It is impossible to understate the impact that Linda had on her students and all those around her.
Throughout her career, Linda was active in numerous professional and community organizations. In "retirement," Linda put her energy and talents toward building a Brahman herd of cattle at Elm Tree Farm in Liberty and supporting Mount Pleasant Church Kimesville (formerly Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church) in various roles, including chair of the Pastor Parish Relations (PPR) Committee and chair of the Finance Committee.
Linda is survived by her husband, Charles Howard Isley, two daughters: Melissa Isley Grice and Jacinda Isley Purrington, sons-in-law: Ormond Drew Grice, Jr. and Alfred Nicholas Purrington and four grandchildren John Bennett Grice, Ormond Drew Grice III, Charles Nicholas Purrington and Alfred Luther Purrington.
A celebration of Linda's life will be held at Thursday, January 2 at 1:30 p.m. at Mt Pleasant Church Kimesville (4400 Alamance Church Road, Liberty, NC). Family will receive friends after the celebration in the Fellowship Hall across the street.
Those wishing to do so may make contributions to Mount Pleasant Church - Kimesville or to the charity of their choice.
https://obits.syracuse.com/us/obituaries/newsobserver/name/linda-isley-obituary?id=56848198 3, Linda Isley Obituary
Linda Isley Obituary
November 5, 1943 - November 18, 2024
Liberty, North Carolina - Linda Shoffner Isley, Ed.D., 81, of Liberty, North Carolina, wife of Charles Howard Isley and a former Assistant Superintendent in the Wake County Public School System, died at home on Monday, November 18, 2024, surrounded by her family.
Linda, the only daughter of Bennett Clifton Shoffner and Delta Pearl Shoffner, was born on November 5, 1943, in Baltimore, Maryland where her parents worked in a munitions factory for the war effort. Linda began her education at Nathaniel Greene School in Liberty, NC, which she attended for 12 years and was a member of the last graduating class in 1962. She caught Howard's eye playing "King of the Pier" at Staley Lake when she was 15, and somehow convinced her parents to let her date "Roughhouse", commencing a love affair that lasted 60+ years. The two were married on December 20, 1964, during her junior year at UNC Greensboro where she earned a BA in Physics with a minor in Mathematics. Always a scheduler, their first daughter, Jacinda Doreen, arrived twelve months later during Christmas break.
After graduation, the family moved to Raleigh in 1966 where Linda began her career as an educator in the Raleigh City Schools (Enloe, Broughton and Sanderson) while Howard finished his degree and where their second daughter, Melissa Carol, was born. In 1970, Linda moved to Ravenscroft School, where she taught science and math for the next 15 years, chaired the Science Department, coordinated Curriculum Development K-12, coordinated graduation (where she helped secure Vice President Gerald Ford, Elizabeth Dole and others as speakers) and sponsored student government among her many jobs. She was loved by students, earning the Favorite Teacher Award, and honored by administration with the Outstanding Educator Award. A lifelong learner, Linda also continued her own education at night, during the summer and on weekends, earning her Master of Education in Science Education from North Carolina State University in 1984.
In 1985, Linda rejoined the Wake County Public School System where she would spend the next 21 years as an administrator, first as an Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at Apex High School before she was recruited to the Central Office where she served in multiple leadership roles related to Curriculum and Instruction. In 1996, she was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society, Omicrom Rho Chapter for her contributions in education. At the same time, she earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from North Carolina State University in 1998, the culmination of 13 years of additional study while working fulltime for Wake County. Ultimately, she was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of the Wake County Public Schools in 2000, where she managed Special Educational Services, Counseling and Student Services, Prevention Services among others for approximately 15% of the students in the school system until her retirement in 2006. She continued her impact as an educator even in retirement serving on the Board of Trustees of New Garden Friends School in Greensboro until 2023. It is impossible to understate the impact that Linda had on her students and all those around her.
Throughout her career, Linda was active in numerous professional and community organizations. In "retirement," Linda put her energy and talents toward building a Brahman herd of cattle at Elm Tree Farm in Liberty and supporting Mount Pleasant Church Kimesville (formerly Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church) in various roles, including chair of the Pastor Parish Relations (PPR) Committee and chair of the Finance Committee.
Linda is survived by her husband, Charles Howard Isley, two daughters: Melissa Isley Grice and Jacinda Isley Purrington, sons-in-law: Ormond Drew Grice, Jr. and Alfred Nicholas Purrington and four grandchildren John Bennett Grice, Ormond Drew Grice III, Charles Nicholas Purrington and Alfred Luther Purrington.
A celebration of Linda's life will be held at Thursday, January 2 at 1:30 p.m. at Mt Pleasant Church Kimesville (4400 Alamance Church Road, Liberty, NC). Family will receive friends after the celebration in the Fellowship Hall across the street.
Those wishing to do so may make contributions to Mount Pleasant Church - Kimesville or to the charity of their choice.
https://obits.syracuse.com/us/obituaries/newsobserver/name/linda-isley-obituary?id=56848198 3, Linda Isley Obituary